Breastfeeding Sisters That Are Receiving Support: Community-Based Peer Support Program Created for and by Women of Color

Examination of Factors That Contribute to Breastfeeding Disparities and Inequities for Black Women in the US

“…Positive community support for breastfeeding is evident in the success of a community-based support group; Breastfeeding Sisters That Are Receiving Support (BSTARS) was formed in 2015 in Memphis, Tennessee, by women of color for women of color. 4 The BSTARS uses partnerships at monthly meetings to support an equity-focused health lens for women of color and their families. In addition, BSTARS addresses barriers to breastfeeding and provides emotional and educational support for Black women, and the strong community connection is reflected in the high attendance rate of monthly meetings and annual events.…”

“…3 Black women have a complex history because of slavery and forced wet nursing, hypersexualization of the breast, and increased risk for sexual violence. 4,5 Enslaved Black women were experimented on by physicians in the development of the cesarean section and gynecological procedures, and the children born to enslaved Black women were viewed as capital for slaveowners. 6 As a result, years of abuse and mistreatment have instilled a lack of trust and suspicion between Black people and medical institutions.…”

“…For babies, research establishes that breastfeeding decreases risks of morbidity from otitis media, gastroenteritis, lower respiratory tract infections, and lower risks for inflammatory bowel disease, leukemia, childhood obesity, and sudden infant death syndrome. 4,9,13,14 For mothers, research suggests that breastfeeding reduces the risk for ovarian cancer, breast cancer, hypertension, type 2 diabetes mellitus, metabolic syndrome, and cardiovascular disease, providing protection from the development of cancer and chronic diseases. 4,9,13,14 Increasing breastfeeding initiation and duration rates have been a continual goal for the Healthy People objectives 15 ; however, meeting the goals has been unattainable to date.…”

“…4,9,13,14 For mothers, research suggests that breastfeeding reduces the risk for ovarian cancer, breast cancer, hypertension, type 2 diabetes mellitus, metabolic syndrome, and cardiovascular disease, providing protection from the development of cancer and chronic diseases. 4,9,13,14 Increasing breastfeeding initiation and duration rates have been a continual goal for the Healthy People objectives 15 ; however, meeting the goals has been unattainable to date. The Healthy People 2020 target rates for exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) were 25.5%.…”

Peer Group: A New Approach of Nursing Intervention

“…The application of peer groups to mothers was also able to improve behavior to reduce obesity in their children (Cameron et al, 2019). The peer group support-based sister breastfeeding program provides proven resources for black women in urban communities in the south to deal with critical resources, including peer and breastfeeding support, and receiving essential pregnancy, breastfeeding, and postpartum education (Pyles et al, 2021) . The peer support approach for type 2 diabetes patients appears to be valued, as participants relate well to community health workers, who are ideally positioned in the health care system to provide services (Pienaar, 2021).Various research results regarding peer group support can be used as a reference that peer group support can be used in various types of diseases and patient conditions.…”