For many, nursing a baby is the embodiment of nurture and love. However, for some families, especially those from non-English speaking backgrounds, the journey to successful breastfeeding continuation and duration can be riddled with challenges, misinformation, and lack of proper support.
At Breastfeed Durham, our commitment has always been to champion every family’s feeding journey. Recognizing the need to address the unique challenges faced by our Spanish-speaking families, we’re proud to introduce a new initiative by the Lactancia Latina Coalition.
Why a Specific Needs Assessment for Spanish-Speaking Families?
It’s a well-established fact that cultural and linguistic barriers often limit the extent to which healthcare and support services can effectively serve a community. Spanish-speaking families in Durham and surrounding areas may encounter:
- Lack of Linguistically Appropriate Resources: Not all breastfeeding information or support groups are available in Spanish.
- Cultural Misunderstandings: Cultural nuances and beliefs around infant feeding may not always align with mainstream advice.
- Limited Access to Spanish-speaking Healthcare Professionals: This can lead to miscommunication or misinterpretation of advice.
Through our Infant Feeding Needs Assessment, we hope to gather firsthand insights from Spanish-speaking families. This will guide our efforts in tailoring our services, ensuring that they are both culturally and linguistically competent.
Community Involvement is Crucial
The success of this assessment hinges on the participation of our community. We need everyone’s help in spreading the word. Please share the links to the Needs Assessment with your family, friends, community groups, and anyone else who might benefit from this initiative. It’s only with your help that we can reach those who need our support the most.
Complete the Assessment in Spanish / Completar la evaluación en español
Complete the Assessment in English
Understanding the Unique Challenges Faced by Hispanic Families
While breastfeeding initiation rates are high among people who self-identify as Hispanic, the continuation of breastfeeding often requires a significant amount of support. This is particularly true for single parents, those caring for multiple children and extended family members, and those who face additional challenges in balancing their caregiving responsibilities.
We understand that each family’s situation is unique. Some might struggle with finding the time to breastfeed, while others might need help managing the complexities of caring for multiple children. Through this Needs Assessment, we aim to understand these individual challenges better, so we can tailor our support to meet the specific needs of each family.
Our goal is not just to encourage breastfeeding but to ensure that every family feels supported and empowered to continue breastfeeding for as long as they choose. By addressing the unique challenges faced by Hispanic families, we can help build a stronger, healthier community for all.
Your voice matters. Your experience matters. By participating in the Needs Assessment, you’re helping us build a more inclusive, supportive community for everyone. Let’s come together to nourish the next generation and ensure that every family’s feeding journey is a success.
What’s Next?
Once the assessment phase is concluded, the Lactancia Latina Coalition will analyze the data and insights. Our goal is to identify key areas of intervention and create a roadmap for developing resources, organizing support groups, and establishing partnerships to further our mission.
We remain committed to ensuring that every family in Durham, regardless of their linguistic background, feels supported, informed, and empowered in their infant feeding journey.
About Breastfeed Durham’s Lactancia Latina Coalition
The Lactancia Latina Coalition is a dedicated team within Breastfeed Durham focusing on enhancing breastfeeding support for Spanish-speaking families. Comprising professionals and community members passionate about infant health, our coalition strives to bridge gaps and build connections.
Let’s come together to nourish the next generation. Your voice matters.
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Read the article below for more information in Spanish / Lea este artículo a continuación para obtener información en español:
Celebrating Lactancia Latina: Participate in the Infant Feeding Needs Assessment for Spanish-Speaking Families!