Nursing Interventions to Improve Breastfeeding Initiation and Continuation Among Adolescent Mothers

Abstract

Despite the benefits of breastfeeding, breastfeeding initiation and duration rates among adolescent mothers continue to fall short of the national recommended Healthy People 2010 goals. An interdisciplinary review of the literature was performed using CINAHL, MED LINE, and Academic Search Premier. The purpose of this thesis is to highlight the findings of an integrated literature review to describe how support and educational interventions implemented by nurses during the prenatal, intrapartum, and postnatal period may increase the incidence of breastfeeding among this vulnerable population. There is a dearth of research related to adolescent breastfeeding. The most common design was noted to be descriptive (N=9) with qualitative and some quantitative components. Studies evaluated several variables: attitudes of infant feeding practices among adolescent mothers; the various health benefits of breastfeeding; breastfeeding statistics; and the impact that professional support, interventions, and education had on an adolescent's perception of breastfeeding. Findings from the review suggested that • breastfeeding support and education are essential in promoting, encouraging, and targeting teenage childbearing women. Early identification of barriers to breastfeeding and cost-effective strategies to promote breastfeeding among adolescent women may even decrease common breastfeeding problems that lead to early weaning among this population. Until the American culture fully embraces the value of breastfeeding, its value will be diminished with no improvement in media representation and workplace support.

Notes

This item is only available in print in the UCF Libraries. If this is your thesis or dissertation, you can help us make it available online for use by researchers around the world by STARS for more information.

Thesis Completion

2010

Semester

Spring

Advisor

Guimond, Betsy

Degree

Bachelor of Science in Nursing (B.S.N.)

College

College of Nursing

Degree Program

Nursing

Subjects

Dissertations, Academic -- Nursing;Nursing -- Dissertations, Academic

Format

Print

Identifier

DP0022692

Language

English

Access Status

Open Access

Length of Campus-only Access

None

Document Type

Honors in the Major Thesis

This document is currently not available here.

Share

COinS
 

Accessibility Statement

This item was created or digitized prior to April 24, 2027, or is a reproduction of legacy media created before that date. It is preserved in its original, unmodified state specifically for research, reference, or historical recordkeeping. In accordance with the ADA Title II Final Rule, the University Libraries provides accessible versions of archival materials upon request. To request an accommodation for this item, please submit an accessibility request form.