This study has shown that the familial environment of mothers plays a very important role in improving breastfeeding rates among WIC mothers. In addition, there is a negative relationship between using a food assistance program and breastfeeding among low-income women.
Breastfeeding rates in the United States can improve based on a well coordinated social marketing framework including mass media, appropriate facility based and community based support, WIC-coordinated community based peer counseling, and adequate protection for working women.
Child Care use is not a significant influence on breastfeeding rates, introduction of complementary foods, and types of complementary foods; however, it does influence when formula is introduced.
This study will test whether increases in breastfeeding result in lower food package redemption costs for each mother/infant pair up to 6 months postpartum.
Both the intensive breastfeeding training of WIC staff and the structural changes to the WIC food packages were associated with more breastfeeding and less formula use by low-income mothers. It is especially important to note that significant improvements occurred before the policy actually changed, reflecting the value of investing in intensive training for frontline WIC staff.
