Cultural Competence & Diversity in Lactation Support Flashcards

The WIC (Women, Infants, and Children) program serves a high proportion of low-income and minority families. What WIC policy supports breastfeeding?

Answer: WIC provides enhanced food packages with higher-value benefits to fully breastfeeding mothers as an incentive

WIC incentivizes exclusive breastfeeding by offering an enhanced food package with more nutritious foods and higher monetary value to mothers who do not receive formula.

A CLC is conducting a community breastfeeding class for a predominantly refugee population with limited English proficiency. Which strategy is most effective?

Answer: Use visual aids, demonstration, and a trained community interpreter in the participants' language

Visual demonstrations and skilled interpretation in the participants' native language maximize comprehension and engagement in health education for populations with limited English proficiency.

What is the primary goal of the 'culturally congruent care' model in lactation counseling?

Answer: Providing care that is consistent with and respectful of the client's cultural values, beliefs, and practices

Culturally congruent care integrates the client's own cultural context and values into the care plan, improving satisfaction, trust, and adherence.

A mother from a culture with strong patriarchal norms wants to breastfeed, but her husband has told her to use formula. How should the CLC respond?

Answer: Engage the husband respectfully with education about breastfeeding benefits while supporting the mother's stated goals

Engaging family influencers with respectful education can shift dynamics and reduce barriers, while supporting the mother's autonomy and stated breastfeeding goals.

Which approach helps prevent a CLC from imposing her own cultural values onto clients from different backgrounds?

Answer: Engaging in regular self-reflection about personal biases and assumptions

Regular self-reflection helps CLCs identify when their own cultural values may be influencing their clinical approach, a core practice of cultural humility.

A postpartum mother following traditional Chinese 'sitting the month' (zuò yuèzi) practices is avoiding cold foods and drinks. She is concerned these restrictions may affect her milk supply. What is the most appropriate response?

Answer: Acknowledge the tradition, confirm that warm fluids and adequate overall hydration support milk production, and address any nutrient gaps

Warm fluids support hydration just as effectively as cold ones, and acknowledging the tradition while ensuring nutritional adequacy bridges cultural practice with evidence-based lactation care.

What is the most important reason for a CLC to learn about the cultural backgrounds of the communities she serves?

Answer: To anticipate and respectfully address cultural practices and beliefs that may influence breastfeeding decisions and support needs

Understanding community cultural contexts allows the CLC to provide more relevant, trusted, and effective support, tailoring education to the client's actual beliefs and circumstances.