Mission Statement:
The Black Breastfeeding Coalition of Durham NC is committed to promoting, protecting, and supporting the fundamental right of breastfeeding for Black families. We aim to eliminate disparities in breastfeeding rates and health outcomes within the Black community by advocating for equitable access to information, resources, and support necessary to make informed decisions about infant feeding.
Vision Statement:
We envision a Breastfeeding Family Friendly Durham where all Black families are fully supported. Our goal is to create a community that recognizes the importance of breastfeeding as a health equity issue and supports Black families in their breastfeeding journey. By partnering with healthcare systems, businesses, and organizations, we strive to create a culture of inclusivity and eliminate systemic barriers that prevent Black families from accessing critical services, ultimately improving the health outcomes for Black families.
Data:
Black infants are 21% less likely to be breastfed at birth and 60% less likely to be breastfed exclusively at 3 months in contrast to white infants. This is a systems problem, not a parent problem. According to a report from the CDC, Black mothers die at a rate that is 3 to 4 times greater than white mothers. The report concluded roughly 3 in 5 pregnancy-related deaths are preventable. We know that these inequities in Black health continue to affect our community and we are here to advocate for respectful health care and strategic partnerships with healthcare systems through policies and change.
Plan of Action
- Create culturally competent resources that reflect the unique needs and experiences of Black families.
- Recognize the importance of reaching Spanish-speaking families with accurate and culturally appropriate breastfeeding information. As part of our commitment to inclusivity, we are translating our digital and printed materials into Spanish to ensure that our resources are accessible to all members of the Black community.
- Create a more supportive breastfeeding environment for Black families by partnering with businesses and organizations to create breastfeeding-friendly spaces.
- Installing lactation-friendly signs to increase awareness and support for breastfeeding.
- Provide technical assistance to healthcare providers, public health employees, and other community members to improve the quality of care for Black families.
- Improve the quality of care provided and prenatal breastfeeding information to pregnant women.
- Identify barriers for Black families to access prenatal and postnatal care, breastfeeding services, and Respectful Maternity Care (RMC).
- Continue to advocate for the implementation of the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative and the implementation of Breastfeeding Friendly Awards to create standardized assessments for mothers and infants.
- Improve access to critical services, especially breastfeeding-related services. List of the Black Maternal Health organizations.
- Strengthen existing programs that support Black Maternal health and breastfeeding in our communities.
- Enhance support for breastfeeding families before and after birth.
Breastfeed Durham is passionate about illuminating racial disparities associated with Black Maternal Health and advocating for the needs of Black breastfeeding families. Breastfeed Durham’s Black Breastfeeding Coalition is proud to be working towards these performance measures to reduce racial disparities in breastfeeding rates and improve the health outcomes for Black mothers and infants. Together, we can create a community that supports and celebrates breastfeeding.