This study examines predictors of breastfeeding exclusivity in low-income women who received services from a Chicago-area WIC clinic. researchers found that women who received first-trimester prenatal care were more likely to exclusively breastfeed than were women who entered prenatal care in later trimesters. In addition, women who declared intentions prenatally to exclusively breastfeed were more likely to exclusively breastfeed than were women who did not intend to breastfeed. Furthermore, overweight/obese women were less likely to exclusively breastfeed than were normal/underweight women.
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.
This study explored whether breastfeeding patterns during the period between birth and postnatal WIC certification differed by participation in a local WIC agency that provided breastfeeding peer counselor support (PC), versus two comparison groups: the lactation consultant (LC) and standard care (SC) groups. The breastfeeding initiation rate was higher for the PC group, compared with the LC and SC groups. Participants in the PC group were also more likely to certify as exclusively and partially breastfeeding, compared with those in the LC and SC groups.
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.
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 study investigated the frequency of exclusive breastfeeding in the early postpartum period, maternal attitudes toward breastfeeding, and WIC Program participation status in a population of mothers at two San Francisco hospitals. The results showed that a higher percentage (79.8%) of the sample was exclusively breastfeeding at 1 to 4 days postpartum. There were no significant differences in the rates of formula or mixed feeding, by WIC participant status. Independent risk factors for formula or mixed feeding at 1 to 3 days postpartum included Asian/Pacific Islander ethnicity. Being a college graduate was associated with a decreased risk of formula or mixed feeding.
The authors pursued a systematic review of (1) the randomized trials assessing the effectiveness of breastfeeding peer counseling in improving rates of breastfeeding initiation, duration, exclusivity, and maternal and child health outcomes and (2) scientific literature describing the scale-up of breastfeeding peer counseling programs. Evidence from randomized controlled trials indicated that peer counselors effectively improved rates of breastfeeding initiation, duration, and exclusivity.
The objectives of this study were to identify (1) reasons why low-income breastfeeding mothers begin in-hospital formula supplementation and (2) risk factors of in-hospital formula supplementation. Results indicated that there was no clear medical need for supplementation for 87% of the breastfed infants who received formula supplementation in the hospital. Attending a prenatal breastfeeding class dramatically reduced the likelihood of receiving in-hospital formula supplementation.
This article examines the progress in breastfeeding support through workplaces, public education, professional education, health system changes, support services, and research. Although there has been considerable progress in breastfeeding support over the past 25 years, significant gaps remain in protecting, promoting, and supporting breastfeeding.
