This study examines Maryland's WIC breastfeeding self-reported initiation rates by participation in one of three groups: (1) peer counselor (PC-treatment) group, (2) lactation consultant (LC) group, and (3) standard care (SC) group. Results showed that the odds of breastfeeding initiation were significantly greater among PC-exposed infants, compared with the reference group of SC infants, but not significantly different between LC and the SC infants. In the Maryland WIC Program, breastfeeding initiation rates were positively associated with peer counseling.
The purpose of this study was to identify sources and acceptability of infant-feeding advice among WIC participants. Professional advice is perceived as credible when caregivers exhibit characteristics similar to those of experienced family and friends: confidence, empathy, respect, and calm.
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.
The purpose of this study was to identify what factors impact infant-feeding decisions of low-income women. Results indicated that women who attended support groups were more than twice as likely to intend to breastfeed, compared with women who did not attend such sessions. These results highlighted the importance of social influences on the decision to breastfeed and indicated the need for broadened community-based education for the promotion of breastfeeding.
This study investigated the relationship between mothers who breastfed exclusively and those who breastfed partially, as well as the duration of breastfeeding. The results showed that the mothers who breastfed exclusively breastfed longer, were older, and had lower body mass indexes than those mothers who partially breastfed.
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.
This study explored reasons why low-income postpartum women either continued or stopped breastfeeding. The results showed that intrinsically motivated women valued breastfeeding, but often required information and instruction to reach breastfeeding goals. Extrinsically motivated women were least likely to continue breastfeeding, even with support and instruction. Providers could screen women to determine their experience and motivation, to tailor interventions accordingly.
The objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a breastfeeding promotion program for WIC participants. Although the majority of the women reported breastfeeding their infants, 45.6% in the intervention group and 28.9% of those in the control group practiced exclusive breastfeeding during the first 7 days. By 3 months, the rate of exclusive breastfeeding in the intervention and control groups had dropped to 13.9% and 10.5%, respectively.
This study examines data from a peer counseling support program for low-income women, to determine how participants; characteristics and behavior affected breastfeeding outcomes. Shorter breastfeeding duration was significantly predicted by introduction of formula on day 1 postpartum in participants enrolled both prenatally and postnatally. Furthermore, in both groups, increasing maternal age and previous breastfeeding experience were associated with significantly longer breastfeeding duration.
