THURS-017 - Psychosocial Correlates of Breastfeeding Support Among Alabama Healthcare Professionals
Thursday, April 17, 2025
11:45 AM – 12:45 PM PST
Location: Pacific I/II, 2nd Floor
Area of Responsibility: Area IV: Evaluation and Research Subcompetencies: Determine the knowledge, attitudes, beliefs, skills, and behaviors that impact the health and health literacy of the priority population(s).
Use a logic model and/or theory for research.
, 4.2.3 Use a logic model and/or theory for research. Research or Practice: Research
PhD student in Health Education and Promotion The University of Alabama Tuscaloosa, Alabama, United States
Learning Objectives:
At the end of this session, participants will be able to:
After this presentation, participants will be able to describe the relationship between perceived breastfeeding-support training preparation and breastfeeding-support-related knowledge, attitudes, self-efficacy, and subjective norms among Alabama healthcare professionals.
After this presentation, participants will be able to describe the relationship between breastfeeding-support certification and breastfeeding-support-related knowledge and self-efficacy.
After this presentation, participants will be able to propose 2 possible ways to improve breastfeeding support in Alabama.
Brief Abstract Summary: Alabama has one of the lowest rates of breastfeeding initiation and duration in the US, particularly among the African American population. Improving the breastfeeding rate may promote health equity among mothers and infants in Alabama. A survey was conducted among healthcare professionals who serve infants and expectant or new mothers in Alabama to examine the psychosocial correlates of breastfeeding support. Data from 64 participants were analyzed. Results showed that over half felt their training prepared them very well to provide breastfeeding support. Perceived training preparation was significantly associated with breastfeeding-support-related knowledge, attitudes, self-efficacy, and subjective norms. Being certified in breastfeeding support was associated with knowledge and self-efficacy. Enhancing breastfeeding training for healthcare professionals in Alabama may help address the state’s low breastfeeding rates and improve health equity for mothers and infants.
Detailed abstract description:
Background: Breastfeeding has numerous documented benefits for both maternal and infant health. However, Alabama has one of the lowest rates of breastfeeding initiation and duration in the US; and these rates are particularly low among the African American population. Low breastfeeding rates may be partially a result of poor support from healthcare professionals; and to provide adequate support, these healthcare providers need adequate training to improve their breastfeeding knowledge and self-efficacy to support breastfeeding. The Theory of Planned Behavior suggests that attitudes and subjective norms will influence healthcare professionals’ provision of breastfeeding support. Moreover, providers are likely to promote breastfeeding if they, themselves, breastfed their own babies. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to better understand these psychosocial correlates of breastfeeding support among healthcare professionals in Alabama.
Methods: We created a 46-item online survey by modifying existing instruments to make questions more relevant to healthcare professionals. Items assessed Alabama healthcare professionals’ breastfeeding-support-related training experience, knowledge, attitudes, self-efficacy, subjective norms, and behaviors. Participants were healthcare providers and administrators serving infants and expectant or new mothers in Alabama. They were recruited by emailing healthcare professionals personally and through Alabama professional organization listservs.
Results: A total of 91 surveys were collected from June 20, 2023, to February 22, 2024; 62 surveys were analyzed after removing outliers and cases with more than 50% missing data. More than half (62%) the participants said their training prepared them for supporting breastfeeding mothers very well. Many (72%) participants did not hold a certification in breastfeeding support, and most (96%) participants breastfed their children. Perceived training preparation was significantly correlated with breastfeeding support-related knowledge (r=.336, p=.013), attitudes (r=.463, p<.001), self-efficacy (r=.694, p<.001), and subjective norms (r=.401, p=.042). Knowledge and self-efficacy were significantly higher among those who were certified (median=9 and 21, respectively) than among those who were not (median=7 and 20), p=.005 and .009, respectively.
Conclusion: Enhancing breastfeeding training for healthcare professionals in Alabama may help address the state’s low breastfeeding rates and improve health equity for mothers and infants. Certification in breastfeeding support provides an additional level of training and should be encouraged. These findings underscore the need for targeted training interventions among healthcare professionals in Alabama.
