Andrea Lawson is a second-year MCH student deployed to the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) in partnership with the Minnesota Breastfeeding Coalition, a group whose purpose is to create healthy environments where breastfeeding is valued and supported to achieve natural infant feeding in all Minnesota communities. The Minnesota Breastfeeding Coalition Perinatal Experiences Study sought to create a meaningful impact on breastfeeding experiences for Somali and African-American birthing parents. The team started with an overarching research question: In what ways do cultural beliefs, community norms, and personal attitudes impact the initiation, duration, and perceived importance of breastfeeding among Somali and African-American birthing parents? The study aimed to promote optimal feeding practices by identifying obstacles and facilitators, building community capacity, developing community-specific education, and addressing obstacles to improve overall health outcomes. A focus group was created to gather sentiments around donor milk and breastfeeding experiences for both Somali and African-American Women. All participants were surveyed and their responses were compiled and coded in NVivo. In November 2023, during the coding process, a Fatwa (religious clarification) regarding donor milk was issued by the Minnesota Islamic Council, in collaboration with community organizations, local neonatologists, and members of the MBC. The Fatwa encouraged the use of pasteurized human donor milk for babies in the event a mother’s milk is not available given the stigma around donor milk. Children’s MN and MHealth Fairview will now provide educational materials and the Fatwa to patients in an effort to help educate and make an informed decision when it comes to electing to use donor milk. In addition, clinical staff including staff from the MN Breastfeeding Coalition are now equipped to train staff when caring for Somali and African-American populations.
When asked about her deployment, Andrea said “the best part of my deployment was seeing the prioritization of breastfeeding within these communities. It offered a valuable opportunity to educate others on cultural practices and beliefs regarding donor milk, thereby addressing the unique breastfeeding needs of these groups to support their overall health and well-being.”
Katie Quijada is a 2024 MCH graduate deployed to a Youth Center in Orange County, California, which exists so that youth have the resources needed to thrive in their own lives and communities. As the MPH intern, Katie started the framework of the Center’s community needs assessment for tobacco programming tailored to youth facing obstacles in public middle and high schools in Orange County. Katie utilized the National Commission for Health Education Credentialing (NCHEC)’s Health Education Specialist’s Companion Guide for guidance on developing a community needs assessment. Katie also assisted with developing presentations for healthcare providers, designed an introductory Public Health 101 presentation for onboarding volunteers, and created a series of social media posts on social and environmental influences on health. The products are intended for a variety of audiences, including leadership staff and program managers, volunteers who are joining the Center’s team, and community members hoping to learn more about public health issues. The report provides a framework to perform a comprehensive needs assessment to best serve youth. It provides data showing local trends in youth tobacco use, advises best practices for tobacco programming, and gives recommendations for launching a full needs assessment to serve this population.
When asked about the deployment, Katie said, “the best part of my deployment was being able to use what I learned at UMN to make a real-world impact on my local community. Being able to collaborate with an organization that is a local powerhouse of advocacy and positive change makes me feel like I am making a difference. I am honored and proud to be contributing towards improving the health outcomes of my local community.”
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