Table 2 Association of counseling characteristics and educational attainment (N = 847)
| Â | No college education n (%) | Did not complete college n (%) | Completed college n (%) | p-value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Hands-on support for mothers during a counseling session: | Â | |||
Help mother to position baby at the breast? | 0.146 | |||
   Never | 15 (18.3) | 27 (10.2) | 64 (12.8) |  |
   Did do | 67 (81.7) | 238 (89.8) | 436 (87.2) |  |
Observe mother breastfeeding her baby? | 0.759 | |||
   Never | 6 (7.3) | 23 (8.7) | 36 (7.2) |  |
   Did do | 76 (92.7) | 242 (91.3) | 464 (92.8) |  |
Correct a baby's poor latch at the breast? | 0.358 | |||
   Never | 24 (29.3) | 58 (21.9) | 125 (25.0) |  |
   Did do | 58 (70.8) | 207 (78.1) | 375 (75.0) |  |
Face-to-face sessions with mothers: | Â | |||
Counsel mothers face-to-face at your place of work? | 0.052 | |||
   Never | 5 (6.1) | 29 (10.9) | 74 (14.8) |  |
   Did counsel | 77 (93.9) | 236 (89.1) | 426 (85.2) |  |
Counseling skills used: | Â | |||
Use client-centered counseling skills with pregnant and breastfeeding women? | 0.002 | |||
   Never | 10 (12.2) | 34 (12.8) | 111 (22.2) |  |
   Did use | 72 (87.8) | 231 (87.2) | 389 (77.8) |  |
Referral to a healthcare professional (includes IBCLC): | Â | |||
Refer mother to health care professionals? | 0.531 | |||
   Never | 3 (3.7) | 5 (1.9) | 9 (1.8) |  |
   Did refer | 79 (96.3) | 260 (98.1) | 491 (98.2) |  |
Other services or skills: | Â | |||
Plan and teach a back to work/school breastfeeding classes? | < 0.001 | |||
   Never | 53 (64.6) | 151 (57.0) | 361 (72.2) |  |
   Did plan and teach | 29 (35.4) | 114 (43.0) | 139 (27.8) |  |
Read instructions or directions for clients who are unable to read well? | < 0.001 | |||
   Never | 20 (24.4) | 64 (24.2) | 224 (44.8) |  |
   Did read | 62 (75.6) | 201 (75.8) | 276 (55.2) |  |
Write out forms for clients who cannot do so? | < 0.001 | |||
   Never | 30 (36.6) | 117 (44.2) | 318 (63.6) |  |
   Did write | 52 (63.4) | 148 (55.8) | 182 (36.4) |  |
Identify social service needs (such as housing or food)? | 0.001 | |||
   Never | 18 (22.0) | 66 (24.9) | 180 (36.0) |  |
   Did identify | 64 (78.0) | 199 (75.1) | 320 (64.0) |  |
Encourage or make referrals to social service agencies? | 0.003 | |||
   Never | 11 (13.4) | 43 (16.2) | 126 (25.2) |  |
   Did encourage | 71 (86.6) | 222 (83.8) | 374 (74.8) |  |
Refer mothers to community resources (such as WIC or food bank)? | 0.001 | |||
   Never | 6 (7.3) | 24 (9.1) | 90 (18.0) |  |
   Did refer | 76 (92.7) | 241 (90.9) | 410 (82.0) |  |