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

Geography: Louisiana

Psychosocial Predictors of Being an Underweight Infant Differ by Racial Group: A Prospective Study of Louisiana WIC Program Participants

The researchers identified psychosocial predictors of having low-birth weight infants among mothers enrolled in the Louisiana WIC Program. Among blacks, mothers with an eighth grade education or less had the highest risk of having underweight infants. Among whites, those who initiated prenatal care in the third trimester were most likely to have underweight infants.

Exploring the Concept of Positive Deviance Related to Breastfeeding Initiation in Black and White WIC Enrolled First Time Mothers

This study explored the characteristics of positive deviants for breastfeeding among WIC-enrolled first-time mothers in Louisiana. researchers found that breastfeeding in the hospital after delivery and having received help with how to breastfeed in the hospital were significantly associated with breastfeeding initiation in white and black mothers. They also found that the black positive deviants were more likely to have initiated breastfeeding if their baby was low birth weight.

Factors that Influence Breastfeeding Decisions among Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children Participants from Central Louisiana

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.

Louisiana WIC Vendor Guide

A Louisiana Office of Public Health WIC publication that outlines policies and procedures for selling WIC approved foods to participants in Louisiana.

Crescent City & DHPE #Choose2BHealthy Videos

In celebration of the 2017 National Farmers Market Week, DHPE produced three #Choose2BHealthy public service announcements (PSAs) about the WIC’s Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program. To produce these videos, DHPE worked […]

Crescent City Food Pantry Resource Guide

Crescent City created this guide to promote their coalition’s local work with food pantries during the CPHMC project. Healthy Plaquemines Now looked to build a community coalition to increase availability, […]

From Nutrition to Public Policy: Improving Healthy Food Access by Enhancing Farm-to-Table Legislation in Louisiana

This project demonstrates how research and sharing of best practices are essential steps to the policymaking process and how such work can unite the health and agriculture communities to foster improvements in access to healthy food. The NPT was not involved in the drafting of specific legislation; however, communications with key stakeholders and policymakers inspired the political champion to prioritize farm-to-table policies during the legislative session. The NPT encourages others to disseminate findings from policy analyses to policymakers.