Opportunities for Pediatricians to Address Racism and Bias to Reduce Racial Disparities in Breastfeeding and the Use of Human Milk: Policy Statement
Pediatricians play an essential role in breastfeeding care and are uniquely positioned to help reduce racial disparities in breastfeeding. Evidence-based solutions include partnerships between pediatricians and community health workers, implementation of culturally centered hospital practices, securing fair payment for lactation services and supplies, practices that discourage commercial milk formula marketing in clinical settings, and ongoing learning about breastfeeding in different cultures. Pediatricians can avail themselves of resources that may elevate their role in achieving equitable breastfeeding care throughout the US.
Authors
- Emily Hannon
- Arun Pramanik
- Section on Breastfeeding
- David Kaufman
- Eric Eichenwald
- Kelly Wade
- Mark Hudak
- Jordee Wells
- Joanne Fernandez-Booker
- Valencia Walker
- Nathan Chomilo
- Nathaniel Jones
- Julie Ware
- Ashley Lucke
- Margaret G. Parker
- Margaret Parker
- Lori Feldman-Winter
- Charleta Guillory
- Namasivayam Ambalavanan
- Camilia Martin
- Tara Williams
- Pooja Kakar
- Maya Bunik
- Monique Jindal
- Sahira Long
- Temitope Awelewa
- Ann Kellams
Institutions
- Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey (US)
- Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center (US)
- George Washington University Hospital (US)
- UMass Memorial Health Care (US)
- Children's National (US)
- University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School (US)
- Cooper University Hospital (US)
- Cooper Medical School of Rowan University (US)
- Orlando Immunology Center (US)
- Cooper University Health Care (US)
Publication Details
- Journal
- PEDIATRICS
- Published
- 2026-08-03
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2026-078282
- Primary Topic
- Breastfeeding Practices and Influences
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00