Las Dos Cosas Versus Exclusive Breastfeeding: A Culturally and Linguistically Exploratory Intervention Study in Hispanic Mothers Living in Kentucky.
Ana Maria Linares, Diana Cartagena, Mary Kay Rayens
PMID 31655788WHAT IT FOUND
Culturally tailored peer support doubled exclusive breastfeeding rates in Hispanic mothers.
However, early introduction of solids advised by other providers caused a sharp drop in exclusivity between three and six months, undermining the intervention's success.
Key findings
01Mothers receiving the culturally tailored intervention were three times more likely to exclusively breastfeed across postpartum assessments compared to controls.
02Exclusive breastfeeding prevalence dropped significantly between three and six months in the intervention group, largely due to mothers introducing solid foods at the advice of care providers.
03The intervention increased breastfeeding intention scores during pregnancy but did not significantly improve breastfeeding knowledge scores.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
Small sample size (39 participants) limits the generalizability of the findings. The study was exploratory with no a priori power analysis. Retention was lower in the intervention group (70%) compared to the control group (79%), though sensitivity analysis confirmed the results remained significant when missing data were treated as failures. The intervention was multi-component (peer counselor, IBCLC, home visits), so the specific contribution of each element cannot be isolated.
Declared interests
The authors declared no potential conflicts of interest. The study was supported by the National Institutes of Health (Extramural).
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume the intervention improved breastfeeding knowledge; the study found no significant difference in knowledge scores between groups. The benefit came from increased intention and behavioral support, not education alone.