Community members play an important role in encouraging Black women to adopt healthy behaviors such as breastfeeding. By creating environments that are nurturing and compassionate, we can help ensure Black women in the Jackson, Hancock, and Harrison counties have access to the information and resources they need to protect their health and the health of their babies
Creating healthy and equitable communities requires intentional and sustained collaboration focused providing the support and resources Black women need to lead healthier lives and establish a culture of self-care and wellness for generations to come. Promoting healthy living and helping Black women transcend breastfeeding barriers requires communities to engage in targeted efforts that foster healthy living, address the different challenges Black women face, and facilitate access to health resources.
Breastfeeding Friendly Communities
Black women have the lowest rates of breastfeeding in Mississippi, and in order to reverse that trend, the entire community has to support efforts to make breastfeeding possible for every mother.
Smokefree Communities
There are 164 smokefree communities in Mississippi, but only four of those communities are on the Gulf Coast. Secondhand smoke contains chemicals that increase the risk of lung cancer, heart disease, and stroke and can harm unborn babies, which makes prioritizing smokefree communities important in efforts to ensure babies, mothers, and families are healthy.
