The authors examines the efficacy of a brief intervention (10- to 15-minute counseling sessions) as a technique to help pregnant women achieve abstinence from alcohol. The second aim was to assess newborn outcomes as a function of the brief intervention. Women in the brief intervention condition were 5 times more likely to report abstinence after the intervention, compared with women in the assessment-only condition. Newborns whose mothers received the brief intervention had higher birth weights and birth lengths. In addition, their fetal mortality rates were 3 times lower (0.9%), compared with newborns in the assessment-only condition (2.9%).
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.
This review identified effective programs that could be implemented by primary care physicians to promote breastfeeding in low-income women. Programs targeted at mothers after 3 months postpartum showed significant success rates. Additionally, successful programs usually involved multiple short follow-up appointments.
This study examines the association between breastfeeding duration and sources of education about breastfeeding and breast pumps. Results showed that breastfeeding and breast pump education were significantly associated with breastfeeding duration. Although healthcare providers such as physicians and nurses have regular contact with women, there was a negative statistically significant association between breastfeeding and breast pump education from healthcare providers and longer breastfeeding duration. This finding likely reflected the time and resource limitations of clinical practice. It might also indicate a need for more consistent training for healthcare providers who offer breastfeeding and breast pump education.
The authors investigated the impact of in-hospital breastfeeding, receipt of a formula discharge pack, and maternal return to work on the long-term breastfeeding outcomes of 4,725 WIC participants in Los Angeles County, California. It was found that mothers who exclusively breastfed in the hospital were 8 times as likely to reach the American Academy of Pediatrics recommendation of breastfeeding for 12 months or longer, than mothers who did not breastfeed in the hospital.
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.
