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

Dads


Engaging Dads in WIC Toolkit

Engaged Dads have a powerfully positive impact on the health outcomes for their children. We are proud to share two products developed by the NWA Inclusion of Dads Task force. […]


A Call to Action: Screening Fathers for Perinatal Depression

In early 2019, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) released a policy statement1 recognizing that “maternal depression affects the whole family” and urging pediatric providers to “incorporate recognition and management of […]


What Do Pregnant Low-Income Women Say About Breastfeeding?

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.


Individual Net-Benefit Maximization: A Model for Understanding Breastfeeding Cessation Among Low-Income Women

The authors used the economic theory of individual net-benefit maximization to analyze the social, economic, and psychological disincentives that potentially influence breastfeeding cessation. Results showed that the following disincentives were significantly associated with cessation: WIC participation at 2 to 4 months; a mother who returned to work for 20 to 40 hours per week; a mother who did not attend a postpartum doctor rsquo;s visit; a household that did not include a father; presence of a smoker in the household; lack of breastfeeding instruction at the pediatric office; a doctor who did not encourage breastfeeding, and a mother who experienced depressive symptoms.


Infant-Feeding Beliefs and Experiences of Black Women Enrolled in WIC in the New York Metropolitan Area

The author explored infant-feeding beliefs and experiences of black women enrolled in WIC (BWEW) in a New York metropolitan inner city. The following were among the major themes that emerged from this analysis: (1) formula-feeding experiences were the norm for most BWEW; (2) life experiences of BWEW included a preponderance of loss and stress; and (3) infant-feeding beliefs of BWEW reflected responses to life experiences.