Integrative Literature Review of Factors Related to Breastfeeding in African American Women: Evidence for a Potential Paradigm Shift

2017 ◽  
Vol 33 (2) ◽  
pp. 435-447 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephanie DeVane-Johnson ◽  
Cheryl Woods-Giscombé ◽  
Suzanne Thoyre ◽  
Cathie Fogel ◽  
Ronald Williams
Keyword(s):  
African American ◽  
Literature Review ◽  
Human Milk ◽  
African American Women ◽  
Health Care Providers ◽  
Low Socioeconomic Status ◽  
Paradigm Shift ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
American Women ◽  
Milk Feeding

Background: Human milk has widespread health benefits for infants, mothers, and society. However, not all populations of women, particularly African American women, engage in human milk feeding at high rates. Research aim: The purpose of this integrative literature review is twofold: (a) to examine factors that influence low rates of human milk feeding among African American women and (b) to introduce a need for a methodological paradigm shift to develop culturally relevant and effective interventions. Methods: The authors searched four electronic social science databases for peer-reviewed journal articles pertaining to human milk among African American women published from 1990 to 2015. Both coauthors independently assessed these articles using thematic analysis and validation. The database search yielded 47 peer-reviewed articles. Results: Three main themes emerged explaining the human milk feeding disparity: (a) the social characteristics of women likely not to feed human milk (e.g., low socioeconomic status, single); (b) women’s perceptions of human milk feeding; and (c) the quality of human milk feeding information provided by health care providers (i.e., limited human milk information). Conclusion: Current literature does include sociohistorical factors that have shaped current norms. Adding sociohistorical frameworks, paying particular attention to the embodied experience of historical trauma, could lead to the development of new evidence-based, culturally sensitive interventions to enhance human milk feeding in the African American community.

Diabetes Self-Management Education and Self-Efficacy Among African American Women Living With Type 2 Diabetes in Rural Primary Care

2017 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 11-16
Author(s):  
Cynthia Harrington ◽  
Heather D. Carter-Templeton ◽  
Susan J. Appel
Keyword(s):  
Type 2 Diabetes ◽  
African American ◽  
African American Women ◽  
Health Care Providers ◽  
Self Efficacy ◽  
Self Management ◽  
Health Clinic ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
American Women

African American women suffer the highest prevalence of type 2 diabetes (T2D). Self-efficacy is important for optimal diabetes self-management (DSM). Purpose: To evaluate DSM by comparing pre- and postintervention responses to a diabetes self-efficacy scale. Design: Descriptive pilot study. Sample: Participants for this study were N = 15 African American women aged 25–65 years (M = 47.4 years) and recruited from a rural health clinic in the Southeastern United States, who received a 4-hr DSM class. Method: Data were collected using the Stanford Self-Efficacy for Diabetes (SED). Results: The increase in the pre- and posttest SED scores were statistically significant, (p < .001). Implications for Nursing: Health care providers should tailor a diabetes education program for these individuals living with T2D. Through a collaborative patient–provider relationship to care, individuals may ultimately experience increased self-efficacy leading to improved DSM.

Long-Term Breastfeeding in African American Mothers

2017 ◽  
Vol 33 (1) ◽  
pp. 128-139 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tyra Toston Gross ◽  
Marsha Davis ◽  
Alex K. Anderson ◽  
Jori Hall ◽  
Karen Hilyard
Keyword(s):  
African American ◽  
African American Women ◽  
Digital Media ◽  
Health Care Providers ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Breastfeeding Support ◽  
American Women

Background: According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 39.1% of African American infants are breastfed at 6 months. However, few studies have explored the breastfeeding experiences of African American women who successfully breastfeed to 6 months or longer durations. Research aim: The goal of this qualitative study was to explore the long-term breastfeeding experiences of low-income African American women using the positive deviance approach. Methods: African American women with breastfeeding experience were recruited through Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) breastfeeding peer counselors. Eligibility criteria included being age 18 or older, currently participating in WIC, and having breastfed one child for at least 6 months in the past 2 years. Semistructured, in-depth interviews were conducted with 11 participants. Interviews were audio-recorded and professionally transcribed. Transcripts were then analyzed for emerging themes using thematic analysis in NVivo software. Results: Participants had on average three children each, with an average length of breastfeeding of 10.5 months per child. Four main themes developed: (a) deciding to breastfeed, (b) initiating breastfeeding, (c) breastfeeding long-term, and (d) expanding breastfeeding support. Participants offered culturally tailored suggestions to improve breastfeeding support for other African American women: prenatal discussions of breastfeeding with health care providers, African American lactation support personnel and breastfeeding support groups, and African American breastfeeding promotion in print and digital media. Conclusion: Women who participated in this study breastfed for longer durations than the national average for African Americans. Findings can inform practice and research efforts to improve breastfeeding rates in this population using lessons learned from successful women.

scholarly journals African American Women’s Preparation for Childbirth From the Perspective of African American Health-Care Providers

2011 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 45-53 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christine Abbyad ◽  
Trina Reed Robertson
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
African American ◽  
African American Women ◽  
Health Care Providers ◽  
Self Awareness ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
American Women ◽  
American Health Care ◽  
Caucasian Women ◽  
Maternity Health

Preparation for birthing has focused primarily on Caucasian women. No studies have explored African American women’s birth preparation. From the perceptions of 12 African American maternity health-care providers, this study elicited perceptions of the ways in which pregnant African American women prepare for childbirth. Focus group participants answered seven semistructured questions. Four themes emerged: connecting with nurturers, traversing an unresponsive system, the need to be strong, and childbirth classes not a priority. Recommendations for nurses and childbirth educators include: (a) self-awareness of attitudes toward African Americans, (b) empowering of clients for birthing, (c) recognition of the role that pregnant women’s mothers play, (d) tailoring of childbirth classes for African American women, and (e) research on how racism influences pregnant African American women’s preparation for birthing.

Addressing Health Concerns of Pregnant African American Women Using the Lens of Complexity Theory

2014 ◽  
Vol 20 (4) ◽  
pp. 258-264
Author(s):  
Traci Sims
Keyword(s):  
African American ◽  
African American Women ◽  
Health Care Providers ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Health Issues ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
American Women ◽  
Science Theory ◽  
Health And Well Being

Pregnant African American women are at higher risk for multiple complex health issues, including depression, than their European American counterparts (Canady, Bullen, Holzman, Broman, & Tian, 2008; Martin et al, 2011; Mathews & MacDorman, 2007; Orr, Blazer, & James, 2006; Segre, Losch, & O’Hara, 2006). Various strategies must be used to address depression through preventive care and promotion of access to appropriate mental health services. Nurses and other health care providers need to examine the relationships between the multifactorial problems to improve the health and well-being of pregnant African American women and their unborn children. This article presents a case study demonstrating the use of complexity science theory to understand and prevent poor health outcomes for pregnant African American women with depression and their unborn children.

Giving Our Daughters What We Never Received

2017 ◽  
Vol 34 (2) ◽  
pp. 128-138 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sheila R. Grigsby
Keyword(s):  
African American ◽  
Sexual Health ◽  
African American Women ◽  
Health Care Providers ◽  
Teen Pregnancy ◽  
Behavioral Control ◽  
Perceived Behavioral Control ◽  
African American Girls ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
African American Mothers

African American girls experience disparate rates of pregnancy and acquisition of sexually transmitted infections, including human immunodeficiency virus, when compared to their non-Hispanic White counterparts. Among African American girls, current pregnancy rates are equal to the national crisis levels of teen pregnancy reported in 1990. This qualitative elicitation study was conducted to gain insight into the ways in which African American mothers and their daughters, between the ages of 9 and 14, communicate about sexual health. Early sexual health communication between mothers and daughters is known to enhance the sexual health outcomes of girls. A series of four focus groups and three in-depth interviews were conducted between July and September 2014. The theory of planned behavior was the organizing framework. Theoretical constructs that guided this study were attitudes, perceived behavioral control, and subjective norms. Results showed that what African American women share with their daughters about sexual health stems from their personal faith, values, and experiences. Findings from this study can inform interventions to provide support for this understudied population. Moreover, there are implications for health-care providers, particularly school nurses, who are in an ideal position to help increase mothers’ self-efficacy to engage in sexual health conversations with their young daughters.

scholarly journals Determinants of Successful Weight Loss in Low-Income African American Women: A Positive Deviance Analysis

2018 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
pp. 215013271879213 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elaine Seaton Banerjee ◽  
Sharon J. Herring ◽  
Katelyn Hurley ◽  
Katherine Puskarz ◽  
Kyle Yebernetsky ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Weight Loss ◽  
African American ◽  
African American Women ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Primary Care Providers ◽  
Positive Deviance ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Chi Square ◽  
American Women ◽  
Successful Weight Loss

Objective: We set out to investigate the behaviors of low-income African American women who successfully lost weight. Methods: From an urban, academic, family medicine practice, we used a mixed methods positive deviance approach to evaluate 35 low-income African American women who were obese and lost at least 10% of their maximum weight, and maintained this loss for 6 months, comparing them with 36 demographically similar control participants who had not lost weight. Survey outcomes included demographics and behaviors that were hypothesized to be related to successful weight loss. Interviews focused on motivations, barriers, and what made weight loss successful. Survey data were analyzed using t tests and linear regression for continuous outcomes and chi-square tests and logistic regression for categorical outcomes. Interviews were analyzed using a modified approach to grounded theory. Results: In adjusted analyses, women in the positive deviant group were more likely to be making diet changes compared with those women who did not lose at least 10% of their initial body weight. Major themes from qualitative analyses included ( a) motivations (of health, appearance, quality of life, family, and epiphanies), ( b) opportunity (including time and support), ( c) adaptability. Conclusions: The findings of this study may be useful in developing motivational interviewing strategies for primary care providers working with similar high-risk populations.

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