The researchers examines the effects of prenatal participation in the New York State WIC Program on birth weight through enhanced control of selection bias and gestational age bias. Adjusted estimates showed a significant positive effect of longer prenatal WIC participation on birth outcomes for all of the groups studied.
The goal of this study was to determine whether perceived levels of social support affected birth weight. Data suggested that infants born to African-American mothers were, on average, 297 grams lighter than those born to white mothers. For African-American mothers only, the mean birth weight decreased significantly as the neighborhood level of economic disadvantage increased. A positive association between perceived levels of social support and birth weight was found for white mothers only.
This study examines the extent to which pregnant women participating in the WIC Program were counseled by their healthcare providers to stop drinking alcohol during pregnancy. A second purpose was to identify characteristics associated with alcohol consumption post recognition of pregnancy. The results showed that women who were most likely to receive advice were black non-Hispanic and Hispanic, were Spanish speaking, were less educated, were on public assistance, and had a higher number of alcohol-related risk behaviors.
The researchers assessed the prevalence of alcohol consumption in a sample of low-income pregnant Latinas and examines risk factors for alcohol use in the periconceptional period. According to their findings, level of knowledge about fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) and awareness of warning messages was not protective for early pregnancy alcohol consumption, suggesting that specific knowledge was insufficient to prevent exposure or that other factors reinforced maintenance of alcohol consumption in early pregnancy. Selective interventions in low-income Latinas are warranted and should focus on women of reproductive age who are binge drinkers or frequent drinkers and who are at risk of becoming pregnant.
The present study had two aims: (1) to examine the prevalence rates of prenatal alcohol consumption in a group of women participating in WIC in Southern California, with special emphasis on Hispanic women, and (2) to identify variables associated with postconception drinking in low-income minority women. Results suggested that it was important to screen low-income minority pregnant women in a community setting, to initiate interventions to prevent fetal alcohol syndrome and related conditions.
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.
This studied aimed to determine the relationship between stress and breastfeeding duration. Survey data from more than 700 mostly urban, low-income US mothers showed that all four stress categories (i.e., financial, emotional, partner associated, and traumatic) were associated with shorter breastfeeding duration.
The purpose of this study was to identify the maternal background and intrapersonal predictors associated with the timing of breastfeeding cessation of mothers enrolled in the WIC Program. The results revealed that women who were older and of Mexican ethnicity, who had previous breastfeeding experience, and who had support from family or friends were at lowest risk of breastfeeding cessation.
This research aimed to test the effect of the intervention program (Dennis's Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Theory) on duration of breastfeeding. The women who were assigned to a breastfeeding self-efficacy intervention showed significantly greater increases in breastfeeding duration and self-efficacy than did the women in the control group. The results of this study suggested that the 1-hour breastfeeding intervention program during the prenatal period might increase the duration of breastfeeding in low-income women who intend to breastfeed.
This study aimed to understand factors associated with a mother's decision to ask for infant formula in the hospital. Mothers reported the following: inadequate preparation for newborn care, lack of breastfeeding preparation, and the perception that giving their infant a formula would overcome the obstacles to breastfeeding.
