Graduation Term

2018

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Department

Mennonite College of Nursing

Committee Chair

Carla J. Pohl

Abstract

Little is known or understood about rural mothers and their experience with breastfeeding. The literature demonstrates a sound understanding of the factors that influence mothers and breastfeeding; however, it is unclear what factors influence breastfeeding among rural mothers. A search of the literature offered thousands of articles related to urban mothers and their breastfeeding experience, but few describe the rural mother’s breastfeeding experience. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to investigate the basic process that characterizes breastfeeding among mothers in the rural setting and to develop a theory based on the investigation of factors that influence breastfeeding among rural mothers. Because little is known, a grounded theory approach provides the best avenue to investigate the interactions between mother and baby. This study attempts to address the current information gap related to rural mothers and their breastfeeding experience. Health care providers in rural areas face many challenges to providing breastfeeding support and services to mothers. Both rural hospitals and rural communities have breastfeeding gaps. Rural mothers experience access barriers to breastfeeding support; however, some can overcome breastfeeding barriers. Hospital nurses and lactation consultants who demonstrate specific support characteristics can provide rural mothers with breastfeeding support that could significantly impact rural health outcomes.

KEYWORDS: Breastfeeding, Rural Mothers, Mothers Breastfeeding, Breastfeeding Barriers

Access Type

Dissertation-Open Access

DOI

http://doi.org/10.30707/ETD2019.Borton.R

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Nursing Commons

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