A practical intervention to increase breastfeeding initiation among Cambodian women in the US

Matern Child Health J. 2008 Jul;12(4):545-7. doi: 10.1007/s10995-007-0263-7. Epub 2007 Aug 10.

Abstract

Cambodians have the lowest breastfeeding initiation rate of any racial/ethnic group in Massachusetts. One barrier to breastfeeding is a lack of hospital foods that allow women to follow a traditional diet postpartum. We examined whether a culturally acceptable menu for new Cambodian mothers would increase breastfeeding initiation in the hospital. After a staff training program on breastfeeding, and the creation of a Cambodian menu, initiation rates increased significantly more in Cambodians than in non-Cambodians. Pre intervention, breastfeeding initiation was 16.7% (2/12) among Cambodians, compared to 60.6% (106/175) among non-Cambodians (P = 0.003). Post intervention, there was no significant difference between breastfeeding initiation rates among Cambodian women (66.7%; 8/12) compared to non-Cambodians (68.9%; 104/151) (P = 0.874).

MeSH terms

  • Asian / ethnology*
  • Breast Feeding / ethnology*
  • Cambodia / ethnology
  • Cultural Competency*
  • Female
  • Food Service, Hospital
  • Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
  • Humans
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Massachusetts
  • Menu Planning*
  • Postnatal Care / methods*