Christian Churches and the Prevention of Preadolescent Aggression and Violence in Puerto Rico: Regional Leaders' Perspective.

Preadolescents' involvement in religious congregations may serve as a distal protective factor against aggression. Interviews were conducted to explore Puerto Rico (PR) Christian church and faith-based organization (FBO) leaders' knowledge and perceptions about preadolescent violence, and the role of congregations in its prevention. Bullying was perceived as the most common type of aggression among PR preadolescents. Education, positive role modeling, and relationships with pro-social adults are considered important in its prevention. While willing to engage in violence prevention efforts, congregations may possess limited knowledge on the topic and its relevance. Findings can help inform the development of collaborative research and prevention efforts at the family and community levels.

Lactation Consultants' Perceived Barriers to Providing Professional Breastfeeding Support.

BACKGROUND: Addressing suboptimal breastfeeding initiation and duration rates is a priority in the United States. To address challenges to improving these rates, the voices of the providers who work with breastfeeding mothers should be heard. Research aim: The purpose of this study was to explore lactation consultants' perceived barriers to managing early breastfeeding problems. METHODS: This qualitative study was conducted with a grounded theory methodological approach. In-depth interviews were conducted with 30 International Board Certified Lactation Consultants across Florida. Lactation consultants were from a range of practice settings, including hospitals, Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children clinics, private practice, and pediatric offices. Data were digitally recorded, transcribed, and analyzed in Atlas.ti. RESULTS: A range of barriers was identified and grouped into the following categories/themes: indirect barriers (social norms, knowledge, attitudes); direct occupational barriers (institutional constraints, lack of coordination, poor service delivery); and direct individual barriers (social support, mother's self-efficacy). A model was developed illustrating the factors that influence the role enactment of lactation consultants in managing breastfeeding problems. CONCLUSION: Inadequate support for addressing early breastfeeding challenges is compounded by a lack of collaboration among various healthcare providers and the family. Findings provide insight into the professional management issues of early breastfeeding problems faced by lactation consultants. Team-based, interprofessional approaches to breastfeeding support for mothers and their families are needed; improving interdisciplinary collaboration could lead to better integration of lactation consultants who are educated and experienced in providing lactation support and management of breastfeeding problems.

Political contexts surrounding Title X, the national family planning program, over the past four decades: oral histories with key stakeholders in Florida.

INTRODUCTION: Title X, enacted in 1970, remains the only policy devoted solely to providing voluntary and confidential family planning and related preventative services to all those in need. Despite Title X's significant public health achievements, this policy continues to receive scrutiny and faces political, financial, and social challenges. This study explores key stakeholders' perceptions regarding the political contexts that have surrounded Title X over its historical maturation. METHODS: Six oral histories were conducted with key stakeholders in Florida using a semi structured interview guide developed from Title X's legislative history, McPhail's Feminist Policy Analysis Framework, and the literature. Oral histories were audio recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using open, axial, and selective coding in NVivo 8. RESULTS: Participants identified and discussed the following political topics and controversies that they perceived have directly or indirectly affected Title X: abortion, adolescents, parental notification, school-based clinics, abstinence-only education, political administrations, and family planning methods. DISCUSSION: Participants' recollections regarding the political contexts that have surrounded Title X over the past 4 decades provided a broad yet rich description of the barriers that exist with fulfilling this policy. Such opposition hinders Title X's ability to support women's right to reproductive health. Practitioners play a key role in advocating for family planning services and should understand the political issues hindering reproductive health policies and the need to translate family planning services as a basic human right.

Approaching 4 decades of legislation in the national family planning program: an analysis of Title X's history from 1970 to 2008.

Family planning is an important public health activity. Title X (Pub L No. 91-572), enacted in 1970, remains the only national family planning program in the United States dedicated to providing voluntary and confidential services to all individuals. We conducted a thematic analysis of Title X's legislative history. Of 293 federal bills included in the legislative history, only 20 (6.8%) were enacted into law. Regardless of the proposed challenges, limited changes have been adopted. Except for technical amendments, bills involving restrictions accounted for the highest percentage of enacted bills, demonstrating efforts to undermine reproductive health rights. Title X requires political will and bipartisan support if it is to continue to protect individuals' reproductive rights.