Table 1 Characteristics of breastfeeding counselors across the United States (N = 847)
| Â | n | % |
|---|---|---|
Age | Â | Â |
   Under 30 years | 139 | 16.4 |
   30-39 years | 298 | 35.2 |
   40-49 years | 202 | 23.8 |
   50-59 years | 162 | 19.1 |
   Over sixty years | 46 | 5.4 |
College education | Â | Â |
   Did not attend college | 82 | 9.7 |
   Attended but did not complete college | 265 | 31.3 |
   Completed college | 500 | 59.0 |
Counselor race/ethnicity | Â | Â |
   Asian American | 5 | 0.6 |
   Black/African American | 64 | 7.6 |
   Latino/Hispanic American | 92 | 10.9 |
   Native American | 7 | 0.8 |
   Multiracial American | 17 | 2.0 |
   White/Caucasian | 634 | 74.9 |
   Other | 28 | 3.3 |
Race/ethnicity of clientele | Â | Â |
   Asian American | 75 | 8.9 |
   Black/African American | 230 | 27.2 |
   Latino/Hispanic American | 250 | 29.5 |
   Native American | 31 | 3.7 |
   Multiracial American | 143 | 16.9 |
   White/Caucasian | 628 | 74.1 |
   Other | 27 | 3.2 |
Position of breastfeeding work | Â | Â |
   Paid full-time | 236 | 27.9 |
   Paid part-time | 304 | 35.9 |
   Volunteer | 307 | 36.2 |
Training duration | Â | Â |
   < 10 hour course | 69 | 8.1 |
   10-20 hour course | 106 | 12.5 |
   >20 hour course | 174 | 20.5 |
   Several classes over time | 498 | 58.8 |
Training included hands-on practice? | Â | Â |
   Yes | 517 | 61.0 |
   No | 330 | 39.0 |
Continuing education | Â | Â |
   One conference a year | 65 | 7.7 |
   Training at job | 339 | 40.0 |
   Conferences and training away from job | 323 | 38.1 |
   Study on own time | 80 | 9.5 |
   No additional training or education | 40 | 4.7 |
Place of work or volunteer | Â | Â |
   Community/Public Health Clinic | 128 | 15.1 |
   Healthy Start | 50 | 5.9 |
   Hospital | 28 | 3.3 |
   WIC | 224 | 26.4 |
   Breastfeeding support group (like LLL) | 259 | 30.6 |
   Doula | 11 | 1.3 |
   Other* | 147 | 17.4 |
Work setting | Â | Â |
   Rural: < 10,000 people | 124 | 14.6 |
   Small city: 10-100,000 people | 240 | 28.3 |
   Medium city: 100-500,000 people | 191 | 22.6 |
   Urban large city: >500,000 people | 179 | 21.1 |
   Suburban near a medium or large city | 113 | 13.3 |
How close is the nearest IBCLC for referral? | Â | Â |
   IBCLC at site | 260 | 30.7 |
   < 5 miles | 261 | 30.8 |
   6-25 miles | 244 | 28.8 |
   26-50 miles | 47 | 5.5 |
   >50 miles | 35 | 4.1 |
Past personal breastfeeding experience | Â | Â |
   Did not breastfeed | 71 | 8.4 |
   1-4 months | 37 | 4.4 |
   5-6 months | 25 | 3.0 |
   6-12 months | 87 | 10.3 |
   12-24 months | 445 | 52.5 |
   >24 months | 182 | 21.5 |
Duration helping breastfeeding mothers | Â | Â |
   < 1 year | 84 | 9.9 |
   1-4 years | 322 | 38.0 |
   5-9 years | 191 | 22.6 |
   10-15 years | 104 | 12.3 |
   >15 years | 146 | 17.2 |