Perception, Barriers, and Facilitators to Obtaining the International Board-Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) Certification Among Current and Aspiring IBCLCs in the United States.

IF 2 4区医学 Q2 NURSING

Journal of Human Lactation Pub Date : 2026-07-27 DOI:10.1177/08903344261452563

Oluchukwu Loveth Obiora, Mandy Golman

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Background: The benefits of exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) and the need to support lactating individuals to achieve EBF are well documented. The International Board-Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) certification is the gold standard for lactation care. However, only 19,930 IBCLCs serve the entire United States, and there is a notable lack of diversity among them. While considerable effort has focused on measuring the role of IBCLCs on breastfeeding outcomes, studies examining the experience of becoming a lactation consultant and obtaining IBCLC certification are scarce.

Research aims: This study aimed to explore perceptions of the IBCLC certification and identify the barriers and facilitators to obtaining the IBCLC certification among current and aspiring IBCLCs in the United States.

Methods: Participants were selected using a purposive sampling method. The sample included 20 individuals who had successfully obtained the IBCLC certification or were in the process of obtaining one. Thematic analysis was conducted following Clarke and Braun (2013) six-phase framework. Themes were interpreted using Bourdieu's forms of capital.

Results: Facilitators in obtaining the IBCLC certificate included personal motivation and passion, supportive mentorship, scholarships and financial aid, strong networking, and flexible learning options. The identified barriers included high monetary costs, difficulty finding mentorship, balancing multiple responsibilities, gatekeeping, a lack of standardization in training, insurance and compensation issues, and exam preparation and anxiety.

Conclusion: The identified facilitators and barriers to obtaining the IBCLC certification are multifaceted. To address the significant barriers identified in this study, recommendations include developing interventions that focus on reducing costs while increasing mentorship opportunities.

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美国现有和有抱负的IBCLC获得国际委员会认证的哺乳顾问（IBCLC）认证的认知、障碍和促进因素

背景：纯母乳喂养（EBF）的好处和支持哺乳期个体实现EBF的必要性得到了充分的证明。国际委员会认证的哺乳顾问（IBCLC）认证是哺乳护理的黄金标准。然而，整个美国只有19,930个ibclc服务，而且它们之间明显缺乏多样性。虽然相当多的努力集中在衡量IBCLC对母乳喂养结果的作用上，但研究成为哺乳顾问和获得IBCLC认证的经验的研究很少。研究目的：本研究旨在探讨美国现有和有抱负的IBCLC认证人员对IBCLC认证的看法，并确定获得IBCLC认证的障碍和促进因素。方法：采用目的抽样的方法进行调查。样本包括20名已成功获得IBCLC认证或正在获得IBCLC认证的个人。主题分析是按照Clarke and Braun（2013）的六阶段框架进行的。主题是用布迪厄的资本形式来解释的。结果：帮助学生获得IBCLC证书的因素包括个人动力和激情、支持性指导、奖学金和经济援助、强大的网络和灵活的学习选择。确定的障碍包括高货币成本，难以找到导师，平衡多重责任，把关，培训缺乏标准化，保险和补偿问题，以及考试准备和焦虑。结论：获得IBCLC认证的因素和障碍是多方面的。为了解决本研究中发现的重大障碍，建议包括制定干预措施，重点是降低成本，同时增加指导机会。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Journal of Human Lactation 医学-妇产科学

CiteScore

5.00

自引率

11.50%

发文量

100

审稿时长

6-12 weeks

期刊介绍： Committed to the promotion of diversity and equity in all our policies and practices, our aims are: To provide our readers and the international communities of clinicians, educators and scholars working in the field of lactation with current and quality-based evidence, from a broad array of disciplines, including the medical sciences, basic sciences, social sciences and the humanities. To provide student and novice researchers, as well as, researchers whose native language is not English, with expert editorial guidance while preparing their work for publication in JHL. In each issue, the Journal of Human Lactation publishes original research, original theoretical and conceptual articles, discussions of policy and practice issues, and the following special features: Advocacy: A column that discusses a ‘hot’ topic in lactation advocacy About Research: A column focused on an in-depth discussion of a different research topic each issue Lactation Newsmakers: An interview with a widely-recognized outstanding expert in the field from around the globe Research Commentary: A brief discussion of the issues raised in a specific research article published in the current issue Book review(s): Reviews written by content experts about relevant new publications International News Briefs: From major international lactation organizations.