Date of Conferral

5-5-2025

Date of Award

May 2025

Degree

Doctor of Public Health (DrPH)

School

Health Services

Advisor

Brieah Hudson

Abstract

Coparents and partners of African American mothers are critical in the initiation and continuation of breastfeeding and influence a woman’s decision to breastfeed. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the experience of coparents/partners of African American mothers participating in breastfeeding education and its impact on the support they provide. Bandura’s social cognitive theory provided the theoretical foundation for this study. Data were collected via semi-structured interviews with 11 participants. Data analysis followed the traditional seven steps of interpretative phenomenological analysis. Findings showed that while coparents and partners of African American breastfeeding mothers found breastfeeding education to be beneficial in their role as a support person, the degree of benefit was varied and related to how engaged they were in the educational experience and how prepared they felt to be a support person. Analysis showed that participants’ knowledge increased, especially in understanding different aspects of the breastfeeding process. Perceptions of breastfeeding and participants’ ability to be an influential and practical support person did not change until after initiating the breastfeeding experience. This study may aid in evoking culturally responsive conversations around education, interventions, and support for African American women while emphasizing the pivotal role that coparents/partners play in the breastfeeding experience. This may include more informed decisions on breastfeeding initiation and continuation, a change in perceptions and acceptance of breastfeeding, and informed strategies that protect, promote, and support breastfeeding through education.

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