The Mistreatment of Latina Women During Breastfeeding Care: A Qualitative Analysis Restricted; Files Only
MUKARRAM, RUQIYAH (Fall 2024)
Abstract
Background: Breastfeeding provides numerous health benefits for both mothers and infants. Despite higher rates of breastfeeding initiation among Latina women, exclusive breastfeeding rates remain low, with only 18% exclusively breastfeeding, and by five months, 86% of infants are supplemented with formula. Mistreatment in pregnancy and childbirth care is widely recognized, yet there is still limited attention on the mistreatment Latina women experience throughout breastfeeding care, from pregnancy to the postpartum period. Despite an urgent need to understand these challenges, research focusing specifically on Latina women’s experiences with breastfeeding care remains scarce.
Purpose: This study aims to explore Latina women’s experiences of mistreatment during breastfeeding care across the maternal-newborn continuum, from pregnancy through childbirth and postpartum.
Methods: We conducted in-depth interviews in Spanish and English with 21 Latina mothers with low incomes, aged 18 years or older, who were within one year postpartum and had delivered at hospitals in the greater New Haven area. Interviews explored their positive and negative experiences with breastfeeding care within healthcare facilities, with a focus on their interactions with healthcare providers and their access to breastfeeding resources. The data were systematically analyzed to identify recurring themes related to mistreatment and inequities in breastfeeding care. We organized the findings according to the Bohren et al. typology of mistreatment during childbirth to develop a framework specific to the mistreatment Latina women encountered during breastfeeding care.
Results: Four third-order themes related to the mistreatment Latina women experienced in breastfeeding care were identified: poor rapport between women and providers, failure to meet professional standards of care, verbal abuse, and health system conditions and constraints. Moreover, we also identified nine second-order themes : lack of supportive care, ineffective communication, loss of autonomy, neglect and abandonment, harsh language or tone, lack of motivated and well-trained providers to provide breastfeeding care, facility culture not supportive of breastfeeding, lack of resources, and lack of language support.
Discussion:The findings reveal systemic issues in maternal healthcare that lead to mistreatment and inadequate breastfeeding support for Latina women, including limited access to lactation consultants, language barriers, and inconsistent breastfeeding resource The lack of timely access to lactation consultants, combined with language barriers and inconsistent provision of breastfeeding tools, highlights the need for more culturally sensitive and equitable care practices. Addressing these issues is crucial for improving breastfeeding outcomes and ensuring respectful and effective maternity care for Latina women. The study’s results are essential for informing policies and programs aimed at eliminating mistreatment and enhancing the quality of breastfeeding care in healthcare settings.
Table of Contents
Introduction 1
Literature Review 5
Methods 31
Results 37
Discussion 70
Implications for Policy and Practice 81
Future Research 85
References 90
Appendix 1: Table 1 109
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File download under embargo until 10 January 2027 | 2024-12-11 08:17:41 -0500 | File download under embargo until 10 January 2027 |
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