Stephanie DeVane-Johnson recently published an article entitled "A Qualitative Study of Social, Cultural and Historical Influences on African American Women's Infant-Feeding Practices" in the Journal of Perinatal Education. Co-authors include Cheryl Woods Giscombe, Ronald Williams II, Cathie Fogel and Suzanne Thoyre.

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to describe cultural factors influencing African American mothers’ perceptions about infant feeding. Analysis of six focus group discussions of diverse African American mothers yielded socio-historical factors that are rarely explored in the breastfeeding literature. These factors are events, experiences and other phenomena that have been culturally, socially and generationally passed down and integrated into families, potentially influencing breastfeeding beliefs and behaviors. The results from this study illuminate fascinating aspects of African American history and the complex context that frames some African American women’s choice about breastfeeding versus formula feeding. This study also demonstrates the need for developing family centered and culturally relevant strategies to increase the African American breastfeeding rate.