WIC Research, Policy and Practice Hub WIC Research, Policy and Practice Hub

Initiation


Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Participant and Program Characteristics 2012

FNS produces biennial reports on current participant and program characteristics in the WIC Program for general program monitoring, as well as for managing the information needs of the program. The biennial reports include information on the income and nutritional risk characteristics of WIC participants; data on WIC Program participation for migrant farm worker families; and other information on WIC participation that is deemed appropriate by the secretary of agriculture. (Only the most recent report is included in this document.)


WIC Participation and Breastfeeding Among White and Black Mothers: Data from Mississippi

This study investigated the association between WIC participation and breastfeeding behaviors among white and black women in Mississippi. analysis of data from the 2004;2008 Mississippi Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System revealed that 52.2 % of white women and 82.1 % of black women participated in WIC. A total of 60.4 % of white women and 39.7 % of black women initiated breastfeeding, and 26.5 % and 21.9 %, respectively, were breastfeeding at 10 weeks postpartum. WIC participation was negatively associated with breastfeeding initiation among whites, but not blacks.


Social and Institutional Factors that Affect Breastfeeding Duration Among WIC Participants in Los Angeles County, California

The authors investigated the impact of in-hospital breastfeeding, receipt of a formula discharge pack, and maternal return to work on the long-term breastfeeding outcomes of 4,725 WIC participants in Los Angeles County, California. It was found that mothers who exclusively breastfed in the hospital were 8 times as likely to reach the American Academy of Pediatrics recommendation of breastfeeding for 12 months or longer, than mothers who did not breastfeed in the hospital.


Exploring the Concept of Positive Deviance Related to Breastfeeding Initiation in Black and White WIC Enrolled First Time Mothers

This study explored the characteristics of positive deviants for breastfeeding among WIC-enrolled first-time mothers in Louisiana. researchers found that breastfeeding in the hospital after delivery and having received help with how to breastfeed in the hospital were significantly associated with breastfeeding initiation in white and black mothers. They also found that the black positive deviants were more likely to have initiated breastfeeding if their baby was low birth weight.


Breastfeeding Social Marketing: Lessons Learned from USDA’s “Loving Support” Campaign

This article explored some of the successes and applications of the USDAs ongoing campaign,;Loving Support Makes Breastfeeding Work,” with respect to breastfeeding promotion and support. Based on social marketing principles to increase breastfeeding initiation and duration rates among WIC participants, WIC breastfeeding initiation and duration rates have improved significantly since initiation of the campaign in 1997. The author concluded that it is important to create social marketing campaigns that target societal forces that affect a woman ;s decision and capability to breastfeed. These include family and friends, healthcare providers, employers, formula industry, and legislators.