Objective: Breastfeeding rates in Hispanic mothers are dependent on the degree of acculturation. Immigrant mothers breastfeed at a higher rate and duration than Hispanic women born and raised in the United States. Since breastfeeding decreases the risk for obesity, and childhood obesity with its co-morbidities of type 2 diabetes and heart disease is highest in this population, finding culturally appropriate interventions to promote sustained breastfeeding is critical.  Hispanic mothers are not breastfeeding for the recommended time frame and these infants experience more health disparities. We proposed that the use of a client-centered strategy (Motivational Interviewing) would promote sustained breastfeeding with a rural cohort of Hispanic mothers.

Design: An experimental, two-group repeated measures design was used to test the effects of a Motivational Interviewing (MI) client-centered intervention versus an infant safety attention intervention. 

Setting: A rural community in the mid-west was the geographic area selected for this study. 

Patients/Participants: Fifty-three Hispanic mother-infant dyads were recruited.  Of 53 mother-infant pairs recruited, 18 dyads were available at the six week visit. 

Methods: Three key visit time frames were conducted to determine the influence of MI on:  a) breastfeeding self-efficacy levels, b) intended length of breastfeeding, c) and duration of partial breastfeeding (measured by maternal self-report, breastfeeding test weights and oligosaccharide level in infant feces). 

Results: Independent t-tests and Mann Whitney U non-parametric tests were used to determine significant group differences.  No significant group differences were found for the study variables.  

Conclusion/Implications for nursing practice: In order to meet the Healthy People 2020 breastfeeding goals, interventions appropriate for the Hispanic culture must be tested with larger samples. In addition, effective strategies to retain participants in research must be developed. .  Breastfeeding promotion is the initial health promotion strategy that can decrease acute and chronic illnesses and prevent childhood obesity. 

Keywords: Breastfeeding, Hispanic mothers, Motivational Interviewing