The purpose of this study was to understand the reasons for low rates of breastfeeding and the maternal selection of infant-feeding methods in African-American mothers. Results indicated that mothers wanted to breastfeed for maternal reasons, for infant-related reasons, and because others advised them to breastfeed. Mothers did not want to breastfeed for lifestyle reasons, pain-related reasons, lactation process issues, and hypothetical medical reasons.
The study aimed to use propensity scores and fixed-effects estimation data from the Panel Study of Income Dynamics; Child Development Supplement to determine the effect of WIC on breastfeeding initiation and duration. Results indicated that the negative association between WIC and breastfeeding is likely false, arising from the poor sociodemographic profile of participants.
The purpose of this study was to explore how mothers of different races/ethnicities make decisions to continue exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) for 6 months under the theory of planned behavior. Intentions to continue EBF for 6 months were similar across racial/ethnic groups. The intention to breastfeed was explained most by the three theoretical constructs: attitude, subjective norm, and perceived behavioral control.
The researchers analyzed the perceptions of low-income pregnant women about breastfeeding, including the benefits of breastfeeding, maternal concerns, support, and anticipated challenges of combining breastfeeding and work. The results showed that low-income women anticipated substantial barriers to breastfeeding when they planned to combine breastfeeding and work or school.
This study aimed to assess maternal perception of infant-feeding cues and pressuring feeding styles in an urban Latina WIC population. The results suggested that most mothers perceived that babies sensed their own satiety. Two perceptions of feeding cues were related to pressuring feeding style: the beliefs that (1) infant crying must indicate hunger and that (2) infant hand sucking implies hunger. Improving responsiveness to infant cues should be a component of early childhood obesity prevention.
The authors examines infant and toddler feeding practices over time, from 2002 to 2008, using the Feeding Infants and Toddlers Study (FITS). Compared with the 2002 FITS data, the 2008 data indicated an increasing percentage of infants who received breast milk; a delay in introducing complementary foods; and a decreasing percentage of infants and toddlers who consumed desserts and sweetened beverages. Additionally, fruit and vegetable consumption remained lower than recommended in 2008.
This study assessed the association between the timing of prenatal participation in the WIC Program and various infant-feeding practices, including breastfeeding initiation, breastfeeding for at least 4 months, exclusive breastfeeding, formula feeding, and early introduction of cow ;s milk and solid food. The study results revealed that entry into the WIC Program during the first or second trimester of pregnancy was associated with reduced likelihood of initiation of breastfeeding and early introduction of cow ;s milk. Entry during the first trimester was associated with reduced duration of breastfeeding. WIC participation at any trimester was positively related to formula feeding.
This study investigated factors that impacted the decision to breastfeed and looked at the effect of formula provided by WIC on breastfeeding initiation and duration among WIC participants in a rural parish in central Louisiana. Participants felt that the incentives provided to encourage breastfeeding did not affect their decisions to breastfeed. The majority (96%) of the participants in this study indicated that WIC provide effective and clear education about the benefits of breastfeeding and that this advice influenced their decision to breastfeed their children.
This retrospective study aimed to identify factors associated with breastfeeding duration among women enrolled in WIC in Hartford, Connecticut. Women who had planned their pregnancies were twice as likely to breastfeed for more than 6 months, compared with those who had not planned their pregnancies. One additional year of maternal age was associated with a 9% increase in the likelihood of breastfeeding for more than 6 months.
The objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the peer counseling (PC) program on breastfeeding initiation among WIC Program participants in Missouri. Results showed that the breastfeeding initiation rate in PC agencies was significantly higher than the rate in non-PC agencies, among prenatal participants. However, the difference was not significant among postpartum participants. Prenatal participation in the WIC breastfeeding PC program (especially, participation early during pregnancy) was associated with an increased rate of breastfeeding initiation in Missouri.
