Anstey EH, et al. – Here, researchers discuss breast cancer disparities in the context of breastfeeding and the implications for black mothers. In light of these outcomes, a comprehensive approach that integrates interventions across multiple levels and settings could be most successful in helping mothers reach their breastfeeding goals and decreasing disparities in breastfeeding and potentially breast cancer incidence.

• In this study, black women in the U.S. have lower rates of breastfeeding and nearly twice the rates of triple–negative breast cancer (an aggressive subtype) compared with white women.
• In addition to individual challenges to breastfeeding, black women may also differentially face contextual barriers such as a lack of social and cultural acceptance in their communities, inadequate support from the healthcare community, and unsupportive work environments.
• More work is needed to improve the social factors and policies that impact breastfeeding rates at a population level.
• Such efforts should give special consideration to the needs of black mothers to adequately address disparities in breastfeeding among this group and possibly help decrease breast cancer risk.
• Interventions such as peer counseling, hospital policy changes, breastfeeding–specific clinic appointments, group prenatal education, and enhanced breastfeeding programs have been appeared to be effective in communities of color.