{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,3]],"date-time":"2026-08-03T12:42:14Z","timestamp":1785760934126,"version":"3.56.0"},"reference-count":16,"publisher":"SAGE Publications","issue":"10","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,1]],"date-time":"2025-10-01T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1759276800000},"content-version":"tdm","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/journals.sagepub.com\/page\/policies\/text-and-data-mining-license"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["journals.sagepub.com"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Breastfeeding Medicine"],"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2025,10]]},"abstract":"<jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Introduction:<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Breastfeeding disparities persist in Los Angeles County (LAC), particularly among communities of color, low-income families, and those with lower educational attainment. A key factor contributing to these disparities is the lack of racial and ethnic diversity among lactation professionals, particularly International Board-Certified Lactation Consultants (IBCLCs), limiting access to culturally congruent care. This study examines the demographic characteristics, certification status, and barriers to credentialing among lactation professionals in LAC.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Methods:<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>A cross-sectional survey was distributed by BreastfeedLA to lactation professionals serving LAC. The survey assessed sociodemographic information, lactation education, employment status, and barriers to certification. Descriptive analyses and chi-square tests were used to examine associations.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Results:<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Among 483 respondents, the majority were White (60.5%) and female (83.7%). Lactation educators (47.2%) were the largest group, followed by peer counselors (24%) and IBCLCs (20%). Barriers to IBCLC certification included time constraints (24.8%), financial burden (13.4%), and family obligations (8.3%).<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Conclusion:<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Despite challenges, 78% of non-IBCLCs intended to pursue certification. Workforce diversity remains limited, reinforcing breastfeeding disparities. Expanding access to lactation training, financial support, and mentorship is critical for fostering a more inclusive workforce and improving breastfeeding outcomes in underserved communities.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.1177\/15568253251364871","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,9,26]],"date-time":"2025-09-26T21:11:56Z","timestamp":1758921116000},"page":"762-768","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1177\/sage-journals-update-policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":1,"title":["Diversifying the Lactation Workforce: A Strategy for Advancing Breastfeeding Equity in Los Angeles County"],"prefix":"10.1177","volume":"20","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-5565-240X","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Gayle","family":"Shipp","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Charles Stewart Mott Department of Public Health, Michigan State University, College of Human Medicine, Flint, Michigan, USA."}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Skye","family":"Shodahl","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Community Health Sciences, University of California Los Angeles, Fielding School of Public Health, Los Angeles, California, USA."}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Arissa","family":"Palmer","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"BreastfeedLA: Breastfeeding Task Force of Greater Los Angeles, Hawthorne, California, USA."}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Cindy","family":"Young","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"BreastfeedLA: Breastfeeding Task Force of Greater Los Angeles, Hawthorne, California, USA."}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Hannah","family":"Seriki","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"BreastfeedLA: Breastfeeding Task Force of Greater Los Angeles, Hawthorne, California, USA."}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Aviril","family":"Sepulveda","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Nurture Collective, Whittier, California, USA."}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"179","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,14]]},"reference":[{"key":"e_1_3_4_2_2","unstructured":"California Department of Public Health Center for Family Health Maternal Child and Adolescent Health Division. Breastfeeding intention and duration dashboard Go.Cdph.ca.Gov\/Breastfeeding-intention-and-duration-dashboard. 2023. Available from: http:\/\/go.cdph.ca.gov\/Breastfeeding-Intention-and-Duration-Dashboard"},{"key":"e_1_3_4_3_2","unstructured":"California Department of Public Health Center for Family Health Maternal Child and Adolescent Health Division. Breastfeeding Initiation Dashboard. 2024."},{"key":"e_1_3_4_4_2","unstructured":"Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Breastfeeding Report Card United States 2022. Center for Disease Control and Prevention.; n.d."},{"key":"e_1_3_4_5_2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1177\/0890334421995108"},{"key":"e_1_3_4_6_2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1089\/bfm.2020.0314"},{"key":"e_1_3_4_7_2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1177\/0890334415618668"},{"key":"e_1_3_4_8_2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1177\/0890334419851482"},{"key":"e_1_3_4_9_2","unstructured":"International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners. Breakdown of Certified IBCLCs in the U.S. & Territories for 2024 (By State). International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners; 2024. Available from: https:\/\/iblce.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/2025_March-24_IBCLCs_US_and_Territories_FINAL.pdf"},{"key":"e_1_3_4_10_2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1891\/CLINLACT-D-20-00023"},{"key":"e_1_3_4_11_2","unstructured":"United States Census Bureau. QuickFacts Los Angeles County California. 2023. Available from: https:\/\/www.census.gov\/quickfacts\/fact\/table\/losangelescountycalifornia\/PST045223"},{"key":"e_1_3_4_12_2","unstructured":"BreastfeedLA. n.d. Available from: https:\/\/www.breastfeedla.org"},{"key":"e_1_3_4_13_2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1007\/s40615-018-0465-2"},{"key":"e_1_3_4_14_2","volume-title":"Breaking Barriers for Underrepresented Minorities in the Health Professions","author":"Toretsky C","year":"2018","unstructured":"Toretsky C, , Mutha S, , Coffman J. Breaking Barriers for Underrepresented Minorities in the Health Professions. Healthforce Center at UCSF; 2018."},{"key":"e_1_3_4_15_2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1177\/0890334418775062"},{"key":"e_1_3_4_16_2","unstructured":"MLK Community Healthcare. MLK Community Healthcare Lactation Clinic. n.d. Available from: https:\/\/www.mlkch.org\/lactation-clinic"},{"key":"e_1_3_4_17_2","unstructured":"California Department of Public Health. Perinatal Equity Initiative (PEI). 2025. Available from: https:\/\/www.cdph.ca.gov\/Programs\/CFH\/DMCAH\/PEI\/Pages\/default.aspx"}],"container-title":["Breastfeeding Medicine"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/journals.sagepub.com\/doi\/full-xml\/10.1177\/15568253251364871","content-type":"application\/xml","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"text-mining"},{"URL":"https:\/\/journals.sagepub.com\/doi\/pdf\/10.1177\/15568253251364871","content-type":"application\/pdf","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"text-mining"},{"URL":"https:\/\/journals.sagepub.com\/doi\/pdf\/10.1177\/15568253251364871","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,28]],"date-time":"2026-04-28T13:02:15Z","timestamp":1777381335000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/journals.sagepub.com\/doi\/10.1177\/15568253251364871"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2025,10]]},"references-count":16,"journal-issue":{"issue":"10","published-print":{"date-parts":[[2025,10]]}},"alternative-id":["10.1177\/15568253251364871"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1177\/15568253251364871","relation":{},"ISSN":["1556-8253","1556-8342"],"issn-type":[{"value":"1556-8253","type":"print"},{"value":"1556-8342","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2025,10]]}}}