new paper published in Pediatrics
Improved Maternity Care Practices Decrease Racial Gaps in Breastfeeding in the U.S. South
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A new paper published in Pediatrics links successful implementation of Baby-Friendly™ practices in the southern U.S. with increases in breastfeeding rates and improved, evidence-based care. The changes were especially positive for African-American women.
Between 2014 and 2017, 33 hospitals enrolled into the CHAMPS (Communities and Hospitals Advancing Maternity Practices) program out of Boston Medical Center’s Center for Health Equity, Education and Research, funded by the W. K. Kellogg Foundation. All birthing hospitals in Greater New Orleans, and 18 in Mississippi, signed up. Breastfeeding initiation at CHAMPS hospitals rose from 66% to 75%, and, among African Americans, from 43% to 63%, over the 3 years. The gap between White and Black breastfeeding rates decreased by 9.6%. |
CHEER hospital of the week
Baptist Memorial Hospital - Golden Triangle!
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Congratulations to CHAMPS hospital Baptist Memorial Hospital – Golden Triangle (BMH-GT) in Columbus, Mississippi, for becoming Baby-Friendly designated on February 4, 2019! BMH-GT has approximately 900 births per year and a level II NICU.
“It feels exhilarating to be Baby-Friendly!” shares Susan Spencer, MSN, RNC-OB, IBCLC, Director of Women’s Services and CHAMPS Team Leader at BMH-GT. “This is a pinnacle in our careers as OB/Nursery nurses. The obstacles we overcame to achieve this designation seemed at times insurmountable. We persisted because there is so much at stake for babies and moms.” |
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2018 CHEER lifetime achievement award
Kimarie Bugg!
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CHEER is thrilled to announce the recipient of our 2018 Lifetime Achievement Award: Kimarie Bugg, DNP, RN, MPH, IBCLC, CLC, for her long-standing dedication to breastfeeding and maternal child health equity! Kimarie is the Co-Founder, President/CEO, and Change Leader for Reaching Our Sisters Everywhere (ROSE), a nonprofit developed in 2011 to address breastfeeding inequities in the African-American community. CHEER’s Communities and Hospitals Advancing Maternity Practices (CHAMPS) program has partnered with ROSE since its incipiency in 2014, and has the pleasure to host Kimarie as our Community Engagement Director. Throughout her career, Kimarie has tirelessly served families, trained health care providers, managed programs, advised national efforts, and led the charge for breastfeeding health equity amongst typically underserved communities in the United States. In this, her life exemplifies exactly the kind of work CHEER seeks to uphold!
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new champs grant
From the Bower Foundation
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CHEER has received a new, 3-year grant from the Bower Foundation to continue work with Baby-Friendly designated Mississippi hospitals.
CHEER (the Center for Health Equity, Education, and Research at Boston University School of Medicine) has run Mississippi CHAMPS since 2014, working with communities and hospitals to support, promote, and increase breastfeeding. The program also helps hospitals to gain the coveted WHO Baby-Friendly Hospital title. Since 2014, 8 Mississippi hospitals have been designated Baby-Friendly, and breastfeeding rates across CHAMPS-enrolled hospitals in Mississippi have risen from 49% to 67%. Rates have particularly increased among African American women, from 33% to 56%. |
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testimonials
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Center for Health Equity, Education, and Research We believe in health equity and are here to help you achieve it |
