Target Population and At-Risk Diagnosis
The targeted population will be breastfeeding mothers in Jamaica, Queens NYC community.
Topic and Rationale for Selection
Breastfeeding boosts the child’s immunity and reduces the risk of death occurring from infectious diseases within the first two years. It also lowers the chances of developing childhood obesity, the risk of ovarian and breast cancer, and type 2 diabetes among mothers. However, exclusive breastfeeding is not being practiced properly in the region (Caines & Henry, 2017). This issue brings out the need of educating mothers on the importance of effective breastfeeding at least for the first six months. The topic is necessary since it affects the health of many people and influences the development of diseases that can be easily prevented.
Learning Objectives
Health promotion and disease prevention teaching session is meant to educate women in the community regarding the need of breastfeeding their babies. It will ensure that mothers understand that breast milk promotes the health of their young ones by supplying the necessary nutrients in the right amounts. It offers protection against ailments, allergies and promotes digestion. Moreover, it promotes healthy weights, growth, and development of babies (Anstey et al., 2017). Mothers benefit in many ways when they breastfeed exclusively since they gain a strong bond with their children and improve their weight management.
The session will ensure that mothers understand the dangers of failing to breastfeed their children appropriately. The awareness will play a role in the improvement of the rate of exclusive breastfeeding and, subsequently, reduce the need for health services (Ghaffari et al., 2017). Since it is sometimes difficult for a mother to remain with the baby every day at least for the first six months, mothers would be educated on how they can extract milk from the breast to be consumed later.
Teaching Methods and Materials
The teaching method to be used is health talk since it is effective in the delivery of important information. It is a natural means of communicating and educating the group after the delivery and during their pre- and post-natal clinics. Small gatherings of about 5 to 10 people will be an appropriate number per session to ensure the effectiveness of the process. The small number of mothers will ensure that everyone is engaged fully. Moreover, it will be easier to evaluate the understanding of every mother and give room for asking questions.
The education will be supported by visual aids including audiovisual material and posters. The inclusion of local stories and proverbs that have a positive health message can influence the success of the program (Odar Stough et al., 2019). The approach can also be combined with a lecture and discussion while illustrating important aspects. It is necessary to prepare the talk properly by listing all the necessary points to enhance clarity and ensure that nothing is left out during the educational session. Adequate time should be allocated to give room for visual aids, asking questions, and discussions.
Methods of Evaluation
The effectiveness of the educational session can be evaluated by asking questions at the end. Response from each of the participants would reveal how well the topic is understood and help identify areas where more guidance is required. Moreover, the concentration and attentiveness of the mothers during the learning process can help determine how well the topic is understood. Poor answering of questions and attentiveness is an indication of a lack of interest. This means that the educator needs to provide a favorable environment and encourage participants to pay close attention to details.
References
Anstey, E. H., Shoemaker, M. L., Barrera, C. M., O’Neil, M. E., Verma, A. B., & Holman, D. M. (2017). Breastfeeding and breast cancer risk reduction: Implications for black mothers. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 53(3), S40-S46. Web.
Caines, D. M., & Henry, F. J. (2017). The cost implications of not exclusively breastfeeding in Jamaica. Prim Health Care, 7(276), 2167-1079. Web.
Ghaffari, M., Rakhshanderou, S., Mehrabi, Y., & Tizvir, A. (2017). Using a social network of telegram for education on continued breastfeeding and complementary feeding of children among mothers: A successful experience from Iran. International Journal of Pediatrics, 5(7), 5275-5286. Web.
Odar Stough, C., Khalsa, A. S., Nabors, L. A., Merianos, A. L., & Peugh, J. (2019). Predictors of exclusive breastfeeding for 6 months in a national sample of US children. American Journal of Health Promotion, 33(1), 48-56. Web.