Resource Types: <span>Research</span>

Is It Time to Put a Moratorium on New Infant Formulas that Are Not Adequately Investigated?

Infant formula sales in the US are a competitive and profitable marketplace environment. FDA restrictions on such new formula releases are designed to ensure that there is minimal evidence of risk, but often the evidence for benefit is not established. Some of these products may confuse families relative to the value of breastfeeding or to the value of spending money on more expensive formulas than are medically needed. In other cases, they lead to multiple formula switches over relatively minor symptoms that would best be managed through parental education. They may also pose risks for populations including late preterm infants or infants with other risk factors for poor growth.

Enhancing Periconceptional Health by Targeting Postpartum Mothers at Rural WIC Clinics

Pilot quality improvement intervention did not create sustainable change and did not improve eating or physical activity behaviors in WIC mothers

Do Unconditional Income Supplements Improve Poor Pregnant Women’s Birth Outcomes?

Receipt of an unconditional prenatal income supplement was associated with positive outcomes. Placing conditions on income supplements may not be necessary to promote prenatal and perinatal health.

Association of Prenatal Participation in a Public Health Nutrition Program With Healthy Infant Weight Gain

The results demonstrate that prenatal WIC participation is associated with reduced risk of RIWG between birth and age 1 year.

Associations Between Preterm Birth, Low Birth Weight, and Postpartum Health in a Predominantly Hispanic WIC Population

Many women exhibited postpartum risk factors for future adverse health events, including overweight or obesity (62.3%), depressive symptoms (27.5%), and no folic acid supplementation (65.5%). Most characteristics did not differ significantly between mothers of preterm infants and full-term infants or between mothers of low birth weight and normal birth weight infants.

“Whatever Average Is”: Understanding African American Mothers’ Perceptions of Infant Weight, Growth, and Health

These findings suggest that mothers use multiple models to interpret and respond to child weight. An anthropological focus on the complex social and structural factors shaping what is considered "normal" and "abnormal" infant weight is critical for shaping appropriate and successful interventions.

Infant Mortality and Race in Kansas: Associations with Women, Infants, and Children Services

Differences in education levels between mothers affected infant mortality to a greater degree than WIC program participation alone in the analysis. The infant mortality rate for black and Hispanic mothers was lower for WIC program participants. The WIC program may be beneficial for reducing infant mortality racial disparities but program participation should be expanded to affect maternal health disparities at the population level

Can Targeted Transfers Improve Birth Outcomes? Evidence from the Introduction of the WIC Program

Our preferred estimates suggest that WIC initiation raised average birth weight by 2 g, or by 7 g among infants born to mothers with low education levels. These translate into estimated birth weight increases among participating mothers of approximately 18 to 29 g.

Strengths and Challenges of the Alaska WIC Breastfeeding Peer Counselor Program: A Qualitative Study of Program Implementation

The intervention program was successful and used texting and online support groups for women. The programs accesibility, relatability and knowledge were listed as the positive elements while confusion about the programs role, limited hours, funding and in person contact was listed as limitations.

Breastfeeding Is Associated With Higher Retention in WIC After Age 1

Mothers who engaged in any type of breastfeeding from 6-12 months were more likely than other mothers to recertify their children in WIC.

Resource Types: Research