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Pilot Evaluation of a Community-led Breastmilk Sharing Program to Improve Health
Research Team
Principal Investigator: Patty Kuo
Co-Principal Investigators: Alex Mason
Funding Information
Funding Agency: University of Nebraska Medical Center—Great Plains IDeA-Clinical and Translational Research Program
Award Date: Jul 1, 2025
End Date: Jun 30, 2026
Abstract
Children who were breastfed as infants are less likely to develop obesity. Despite clear public health recommendations from the CDC, only 25% of infants in the U.S. are exclusively breastfed for the recommended six months.
As many as 70% of mothers experience problems with breastfeeding and as a result, breastfeeding rates are lower than desired, particularly among Black/African-Americans (17.2%) and rural residents (18%), thereby compounding potential nutrition-related health disparities from the start of life.
This pilot project is designed to evaluate a highly innovative, community-led breastmilk sharing intervention along with communitywide needs assessment. Malone Maternal Wellness milk share is the only program in the U.S. that facilitates breastmilk sharing through informed screening of donors and storage and delivery of milk in alignment with international standards and guidelines for the safe sharing of human milk.
Data will be generated by 25 participants and 25 non-participants completing baseline surveys, followed by a one-month follow-up survey to establish program feasibility and acceptability. Researchers will document how the milk share program is used by recipients, donors and community knowledge and acceptance of milk sharing.
Findings will be used to establish best practices in developing and maintaining a community-led milk share program with potential to expand into geographically isolated populations.