34223 Racial Inequities and Breastfeeding in a NICU

Course overview

Discussion focusing on racial inequities and breastfeeding in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Topics include the importance of breastfeeding in a NICU, common barriers, how implicit bias and social determinants of health affect breastfeeding in a NICU, and how breastfeeding rates for infants of color can be increased by implementing health equity courses. There is also a discussion about how implicit bias may impact healthcare. Very low birth weight infants are substantially more likely to be born to black mothers than to non-black mothers, predisposing them to potentially preventable morbidities that increase the risk of costly lifelong health problems. Mothers' milk may be considered the ultimate medicine and reduces the risks and associated costs of prematurity-associated morbidities with reduction afforded by mothers' milk from birth through to NICU discharge. When mother is not available, the NICU assumes the responsibility of procuring inferior choices which may further contribute to disparate outcomes.