Role of Education in Improving Breastfeeding Rates

Research has consistently linked breastfeeding to a myriad of benefits for both mom and baby, yet the decision to breastfeed can still be a challenge for many women. A recent study conducted at the University of Missouri Sinclair School of Nursing shows that education and community support play critical roles in increasing breastfeeding rates, especially in rural areas where expecting mothers can struggle to find breastfeeding support. 

The study: Understanding the influences on decision to breastfeed

In the study, doctoral student Karry Weston interviewed a group of postpartum women in Missouri who were currently breastfeeding. These interviews aimed to identify which factors had the greatest influence on their decision to breastfeed, primarily focusing on factors related to the perceptions and knowledge around breastfeeding of the women, their families, and their communities. 

“Knowledge was a driving force behind the choice to breastfeed”

Understanding the significant benefits of breastfeeding for a mother and baby can be a huge motivator in a woman’s attempt to breastfeed. Almost 75% of participants in the study sought out opportunities to learn more about breastfeeding through prenatal and lactation education and for those women, ”knowledge was a driving force behind the choice to breastfeed.” One participant talked about the “eye opening impact that talking to a nursing professor about breastfeeding had on her” saying “that was the pinnacle experience that I was like, if I have a baby, I’m going to breastfeed.”

“[Talking about breastfeeding] made her family and friends more comfortable and open to attempting breastfeeding”

When women had the support of family and friends who breastfed, the idea of breastfeeding became less stigmatized and the decision to breastfeed became easier.  One participant felt that after she began breastfeeding, more people in her sphere were inclined to breastfeed as well. She said that “this is because they not only got to witness her doing it, but because they got to talk about the process; what it was like, the pros and cons, and so forth” and it “ultimately made her family and friends more comfortable and open to attempting breastfeeding as well.” 

The results: Education and community support can lead to better outcomes

Through her study, Weston determined that “if we can increase both education and community exposure, people can broaden their horizons, change their minds and learn about different options or different ways of doing things, which has enormous potential implications for improving health care outcomes.”

Did you know?

Penn Medicine conducted a study that showed patients with access to the Birthly platform had higher rates of breastfeeding at delivery. If you’re interested in learning more about how Birthly partners with health providers to improve access to childbirth education go to www.mybirthly.com/partners or email info@mybirthly.com.

Resources: The study, titled "Maternal COVID vaccination and breastfeeding during a pandemic: Habitus and health behavior decision making," was published in Public Health Nursing. Co-authors of the study include Linda Bullock, Albert L. Hsu, Henry Wan, Megan Burnam-Cole, Kevin D. Everett, and Jane A. McElroy. The National Institutes of Health/National Institute of Nursing Research and the University of Missouri Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology provided funding for the research.