Barriers to breastfeeding for Black mothers are well documented in the literature. Local context is crucial for understanding and addressing barriers. Our research used the photovoice method to amplify the voices of Black mothers in Chatham County, Georgia. Guided by the sociol-ecological model, this photovoice project explored and identified the social, cultural, and physical barriers to breastfeeding that the mothers experienced. Two additional themes emerged through data analysis: personal comfort with public breastfeeding and the women’s recommendations for breastfeeding support and normalization. Lack of physical spaces, lack of peer and family support, the need to overcome the stigma associated with breastfeeding, and advocating for more lactation spaces were commonly stated by the participants. These results led to the creation of a policy toolkit, a breastfeeding policy template, a proclamation to make the City of Savannah a Breastfeeding Family Friendly Community, an online photobook to share the experiences of the mothers, and additional paths of dialogue to increase inclusivity and expand health equity within Chatham County.

Psychological distress, an emotional condition with symptoms of anxiety and depression, leads to impaired function, behavior, and personal traits. The current study examined the association between social determinants of health and the severity of psychological distress among adults in the United States after the COVID-19 pandemic. Using multinomial multivariable logistic regression, we analyzed data from 5106 (n = 5106) participants in the Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS) 6. Compared to non-Hispanic Whites, African Americans (AOR = 0.62, CI = 0.42–0.93) had lower odds of reporting mild psychological distress rather than no stress. Other variables associated with a higher likelihood of reporting moderate to severe psychological distress, rather than no distress, are being in the 50–64 years age group (AOR = 2.77, CI = 1.45–5.28), divorced (AOR = 2.50, CI = 1.70–3.69), and widowed (AOR = 3.78, CI = 2.15–6.64). Respondents living in an urban area had lower odds of reporting moderate to severe psychological distress (AOR = 0.56, CI = 0.39–0.80) compared to those living in rural areas. Our findings identify several risk factors for psychological distress by sociodemographic characteristics such as age, race, marital status, and urban living, providing empirical evidence for interventions in behavioral health. These findings suggest there is an utmost need for a multi-sectoral approach to address the social determinants of health associated with psychological distress post-COVID-19 pandemic.

(1) Background: The study’s purpose was to explore the knowledge, perceptions, and confidence of mothers about infant care to reduce the risk of sudden unexpected infant death. (2) Methods: A purposeful sampling method was used to recruit 15 first-time mothers from Georgia with infants under 1 year of age. The researchers utilized the Socio-ecological model to report the results. Participants also provided recommendations on how to improve infant care and reduce the risk of SUID. (3) Results: The confidence level of infant care among most participants was low but increased over time. Mothers’ knowledge level about the prevention of SUID was high, but poor emotional health could hurt their parental abilities. Most participants recognized medical providers as the main source of reliable information. However, a lack of emotional and physical support was reported by mothers. (4) Conclusions: Results suggested that a more holistic approach to infant care is needed. The healthcare system and communities should provide more physical, social, and mental support to first-time mothers, a consolidated approach to care before and after birth, and easy access to services at all stages of the process to reduce the risk of SUID.

Background: The U.S. infant mortality rate was 5.9 deaths per 1,000 live infant births, which placed the U.S. at No. 33 out of 36 countries with the world’s largest economy in 2018. The U.S. State of Georgia’s IMR in 2018 was 7.6 deaths per 1,000 live infant births, which placed Georgia at...