Standardizing lactation education for home visiting staff to improve breastfeeding duration rates

Abstract

Breastfeeding has been shown to improve short-and long-term health outcomes to both mother and child. Health departments are in a unique role to provide community level support in breastfeeding. Gallatin-City County Health Department provides breastfeeding support through multiple programs within the community, including maternal child health home visiting. Based on a recent survey, results showed that half of home visitors did not feel confident in educating prenatal clients on breastfeeding. In addition to this, home visitors did not feel they were providing the same education on breastfeeding. Stemming from this, the need for a standardized lactation curriculum was researched. Ready, Set, Baby is an evidence-based standardized curriculum that increases a mother's knowledge of breastfeeding benefits and practices. This scholarly project examines home visiting staff education on Ready, Set, Baby curriculum, improved breastfeeding education with home visiting families, and improved breastfeeding duration rates.