Intro & Response Rates

Surveys were mailed to Family physicians, obstetricians, and pediatricians within the four most western counties of Florida: Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa, and Walton. Surveys were also mailed to all LLL leaders, IBCLCs (obtained from FLCA and ILCA registries as well as those identified by other IBCLCs in the area), prenatal educators or Lactation Specialists, and Maternal Child faculty at every nursing school in the same four counties. Lactation Consultants (3 total) who lived in the next three counties: Holmes, Washington, and Bay were also contacted to determine interest from them regarding a regional breastfeeding coalition. Surveys were not mailed to physicians in the second set of counties, due to lack of resources to obtain those names, as well as the added cost of mailing additional surveys. A total of 325 surveys were mailed, with self-addressed envelopes, to the above described group. Surveys were returned with incorrect info for 28 of the contacts. A new or corrected address was found for 22 of these surveys, which were then remailed. Follow-up postcards was mailed to 273 contacts who had not responded in the first 3 weeks.

Seven hospitals, which have perinatal units and are located in the four western counties, were contacted to seek participation by their perinatal nurses. Six hospitals agreed to have their nurses participate; one hospital declined without explanation. An estimated number of needed surveys was obtained for each hospital and enough surveys for each nurse, as well as return envelopes, were provided to the nurse managers or their appointed assistant. Four hospitals returned an adequate supply of surveys. One hospital had one paper survey and one online survey completed; the rest were misplaced. The final hospital could not locate any surveys when it came time to retrieve them.

Response rates:

Professional Group Family Physicians Obstetricians Pediatricians IBCLCs (Lactation Consultants) Prenatal/Lactation Specialists WIC Peer Counselors LaLeche League Leaders OB Nursing Instructors Perinatal Nurses*

Mailed 151 50 76 19 4 4 5 15 310

Returned 9 11 22 12 2 4 4 13 97

% Response 5.6% 21.6% 28.9% 63.2% 50% 100% 80% 86.7% 31.3%

*These surveys were not mailed, but were delivered in batches to participating hospitals

Hospitals A B C D E F

Supplied 200 40 20 20 20 10

Returned 59 0 19 8 2 10

% Response 29.5% 0% 90% 40% 10% 100%

Next Page: Breastfeeding Value Statements

Also you may go to the Zoomerang results webpage for more charts and graphs of the results. Zoomerang Website