Hutchinson/Reno County Breastfeeding Project Jeanne Ritter, MS, RD, LD Reno County Health Department

Introduction to the Community Hutchinson: population 42,000 Reno County: population 65,000 Promise Regional Medical Center –200 bed hospital –700 deliveries annually

Reno County Breastfeeding Coalition Established in 2000 Community partners –Health department –Hospital –La Leche League –Physician offices –Local mothers Projects include Kansas State Fair nursing mothers rooms, breastfeeding continuing education for health care providers, local health fairs

Breastfeeding Grant Opportunity: Identifying Community Needs Identified strengths: –Good breastfeeding initiation rate – 78% –Good immediate follow-up after birth –La Leche League groups –WIC Breastfeeding Peer Counselor Identified weaknesses: –Lack of lactation consultant services –Lack of referral resources for older babies, especially for in-person assistance

Our Project Walk-In Breastfeeding Clinic –Two locations –Available Monday through Friday Hospital 3 days per week Health Department 2 days per week –Open 2 hours per day –Modeled on Topeka Stormont-Vail Clinic as presented in the CDC Guide to Breastfeeding Interventions –Set-up conducive to mother-to-mother support Home visits from health department nurses

Implementation of Project Visit Stormont-Vail Clinic Identify locations Identify personnel Remodel clinic room at the hospital Purchase equipment and supplies Develop and print brochures Open clinics

Getting the Word Out Letter to physicians Press release / Newspaper article Brochures –New mothers –Physician offices –Birthing center at hospital –Health department Prenatal classes

The First Six Months Hospital Clinic –46 infants –44 mothers –98 visits –52 days of clinic

The First Six Months Health Department –Home visits offered to all new mothers –128 initial nurse newborn home visits –39 days of clinic –Clinic has not caught on yet

Possible Reasons for the Better Turn Out at the Hospital Clinics Health Department offers home visits: more convenient for family, private, no travel for new mother and baby. Hospital offered free two day post partum weight checks to all infants born there.

Possible Reasons for the Better Turn Out at the Hospital Clinics Pediatricians accustomed to refer clients to hospital for this post partum weight. Afternoon time frame more convenient. Women who delivered at hospital know the location.

Evaluation Follow-up phone calls Clerk time included in grant expenditures

Survey Results From First Two Quarters Of the 32 women who attended clinics and agreed to follow up calls, 21 responded to calls (66%).

Survey Results From First Two Quarters, continued Why did mother attend hospital clinic? –Time and days were convenient: 62% –Hospital is where delivered: 57% –Wanted an IBCLC: 48% –My doctor told me to go to the hospital: 33%

Survey Results From First Two Quarters, continued Six women who did not attend clinics completed survey. Reasons given for not attending a clinic: –No questions about breastfeeding: 2 –Asked doctor her questions: 1 –Did not know about clinics: 1 –No answer: 2

Survey Results From First Two Quarters, continued Of those who attended the Clinics: –Very satisfied with the Clinic: 86% –Somewhat satisfied: 9% –Satisfied: 5%

Contact Information Jeanne Ritter