Skip to main content
Key Specialties
Cardiology Diabetology Endocrinology Gastroenterology Geriatrics and Gerontology Gynecology and Obstetrics Hematology Infectious Disease Internal Medicine Nephrology Neurology Oncology Pediatrics Respiratory Medicine Rheumatology Surgery
Congress Coverage
2024 ACC Congress 2023 ESMO Congress 2023 EASD Congress 2023 ERS Congress 2023 ESC Congress 2023 EHA Congress 2023 ASCO Annual Meeting
Clinical Collections
Advances in Alzheimer’s

At a glance: The ONWARDS insulin icodec trials

A round-up of the ONWARDS phase 3 clinical trials evaluating the novel weekly insulin icodec in people with diabetes.
ADVANCED SEARCH
Log in
Top
Maternal and Child Health Journal
Published in: Maternal and Child Health Journal 3/2012

01-04-2012

Participation in the Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) and Breastfeeding: National, Regional, and State Level Analyses

Author: Elizabeth Jensen

Published in: Maternal and Child Health Journal | Issue 3/2012

Login to get access

Abstract

This research builds on literature that suggests a negative association between participation in the Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) and breastfeeding. Variation in results at the national, regional, and state level has important policy implications for breastfeeding promotion through WIC. Using the 2007 National Immunization Survey dataset, Chi-square, ANOVA, and adjusted regression modeling techniques assess the relationship between WIC participation and breastfeeding initiation and duration. Adjusted regression models suggest a negative association between WIC participation and breastfeeding initiation rates (OR = 0.67, 95% CI: 0.61, 0.72). Of those who initiated breastfeeding, WIC participation was associated with a mean breastfeeding duration decrease of 0.63 months (95% CI: −0.86, −0.39). At the regional level, 3 of 7 regions showed a negative association between WIC participation and breastfeeding initiation. All of the regions indicated a negative association between WIC participation and breastfeeding duration. Out of 50 states, 13 had a statistically significant reduction in odds of initiation of breastfeeding and 10 had reduced duration of breastfeeding among participants of WIC when compared to non-participants. No state showed a positive association between WIC participation and breastfeeding. Regional and state differences in breastfeeding rates suggest that further research is needed to understand the role of national, regional, and state level policies which may undermine WIC’s breastfeeding promotion efforts. Although WIC revised the food packages to create a stronger incentive for breastfeeding, a disincentive for breastfeeding may exist given the higher market value of the formula packages.
Literature
1.
Scariati, P. D., Grummer-Strawn, L. M., & Fein, S. B. (1997). A longitudinal analysis of infant morbidity and the extent of breastfeeding in the United States. Pediatrics, 99(6), E5.PubMedCrossRef
2.
Gdalevich, M., Mimouni, D., David, M., & Mimouni, M. (2001). Breast-feeding and the onset of atopic dermatitis in childhood: a systematic review and meta-analysis of prospective studies. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 45(4), 520–527.PubMedCrossRef
3.
Monterrosa, E. C., Frongillo, E. A., Vasquez-Garibay, E. M., Romero-Velarde, E., Casey, L. M., & Willows, N. D. (2008). Predominant breast-feeding from birth to six months is associated with fewer gastrointestinal infections and increased risk for iron deficiency among infants. Journal of Nutrition, 138(8), 1499–1504.PubMed
4.
Banerji, A., Greenberg, D., White, L. F., Macdonald, W. A., Saxton, A., Thomas, E., et al. (2009). Risk factors and viruses associated with hospitalization due to lower respiratory tract infections in Canadian Inuit children : a case-control study. The Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal, 28(8), 697–701.PubMedCrossRef
5.
Matson, A. P., Thrall, R. S., Rafti, E., & Puddington, L. (2009). Breastmilk from allergic mothers can protect offspring from allergic airway inflammation. Breastfeed Medicine, 4(3), 167–174.CrossRef
6.
Scholtens, S., Wijga, A. H., Brunekreef, B., Kerkhof, M., Hoekstra, M. O., Gerritsen, J., et al. (2009). Breast feeding, parental allergy and asthma in children followed for 8 years. The PIAMA birth cohort study. Thorax, 64(7), 604–609.PubMedCrossRef
7.
Flores-Lujano, J., Perez-Saldivar, M. L., Fuentes-Panana, E. M., Gorodezky, C., Bernaldez-Rios, R., Del Campo-Martinez, M. A., et al. (2009). Breastfeeding and early infection in the aetiology of childhood leukaemia in Down syndrome. British Journal of Cancer, 101(5), 860–864.PubMedCrossRef
8.
Bener, A., Hoffmann, G. F., Afify, Z., Rasul, K., & Tewfik, I. (2008). Does prolonged breastfeeding reduce the risk for childhood leukemia and lymphomas? Minerva pediatrica, 60(2), 155–161.PubMed
9.
Metzger, M. W., McDade, T. W. (2009). Breastfeeding as obesity prevention in the United States: A sibling difference model. American Journal of Human Biology.
10.
Parikh, N. I., Hwang, S. J., Ingelsson, E., Benjamin, E. J., Fox, C. S., Vasan, R. S., et al. (2009). Breastfeeding in infancy and adult cardiovascular disease risk factors. American Journal of Medicine, 122(7), 656.e1–663.e1.CrossRef
11.
Vennemann, M. M., Bajanowski, T., Brinkmann, B., Jorch, G., Yucesan, K., Sauerland, C., et al. (2009). Does breastfeeding reduce the risk of sudden infant death syndrome? Pediatrics, 123(3), e406–e410.PubMedCrossRef
12.
Ip, S., Chung, M., Raman, G., Chew, P., Magula, N., DeVine, D., et al. (2007). Breastfeeding and maternal and infant health outcomes in developed countries. Evidence Report/Technology Assessment (Full Report), 153, 1–186.
13.
14.
Gartner, L. M., Morton, J., Lawrence, R. A., Naylor, A. J., O’Hare, D., Schanler, R. J., et al. (2005). Breastfeeding and the use of human milk. Pediatrics, 115(2), 496–506.PubMedCrossRef
15.
16.
17.
McDowell, M. M., Wang, C. Y., & Kennedy-Stephenson, J. (2008). Breastfeeding in the United States: findings from the national health and nutrition examination surveys, 1999–2006. NCHS Data Brief, 5, 1–8.PubMed
18.
Thulier, D., & Mercer, J. (2009). Variables associated with breastfeeding duration. Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic, and Neonatal Nursing, 38(3), 259–268.PubMedCrossRef
19.
National Archives and Records Administration (2007). Federal register - 7 CFR Part 246 - Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC): Revisions in the WIC Food Packages; Interim Rule 72(234).
20.
Prell, M. (2004). An Economic Model of WIC, the Infant Formula Rebate Program, and the Retail Price of Infant Formula. 39–42.
21.
Welch, P., & Welch, G. (2009). Economics theory and practice. New Jersy: Wiley.
22.
USDA Food and Nutrition Service Office of Analysis, Nutrition, and Evaluation (2007). WIC food package costs and rebates summary: fiscal year 2005.
23.
24.
United States General Accounting Office (2001). WIC faces challenges in providing nutrition services. Report to Congressional Committees GAO-02-142.
25.
Black, M. M., Hurley, K. M., Oberlander, S. E., Hager, E. R., McGill, A. E., White, N. T., et al. (2009). Participants’ comments on changes in the revised special supplemental nutrition program for women, infants, and children food packages: the Maryland food preference study. Journal of the American Dietetic Association, 109(1), 116–123.PubMedCrossRef
26.
Holmes, A. V., Chin, N. P., Kaczorowski, J., & Howard, C. R. (2009). A barrier to exclusive breastfeeding for WIC enrollees: limited use of exclusive breastfeeding food package for mothers. Breastfeed Medicine, 4(1), 25–30.CrossRef
27.
Ryan, A. S., & Zhou, W. (2006). Lower breastfeeding rates persist among the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children participants, 1978–2003. Pediatrics, 117(4), 1136–1146.PubMedCrossRef
28.
Herman, D. R., Harrison, G. G., & Jenks, E. (2006). Choices made by low-income women provided with an economic supplement for fresh fruit and vegetable purchase. Journal of the American Dietetic Association, 106(5), 740–744.PubMedCrossRef
29.
Ertem, I. O., Votto, N., & Leventhal, J. M. (2001). The timing and predictors of the early termination of breastfeeding. Pediatrics, 107(3), 543–548.PubMedCrossRef
30.
Heinig, M. J., Ishii, K. D., Banuelos, J. L., Campbell, E., O’Loughlin, C., & Vera Becerra, L. E. (2009). Sources and acceptance of infant-feeding advice among low-income women. Journal of Human Lactation, 25(2), 163–172.PubMedCrossRef
31.
Hurley, K. M., Black, M. M., Papas, M. A., & Quigg, A. M. (2008). Variation in breastfeeding behaviours, perceptions, and experiences by race/ethnicity among a low-income statewide sample of Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) participants in the United States. Maternal & Child Nutrition, 4(2), 95–105.CrossRef
32.
McCann, M. F., Baydar, N., & Williams, R. L. (2007). Breastfeeding attitudes and reported problems in a national sample of WIC participants. Journal of Human Lactation, 23(4), 314–324.PubMedCrossRef
33.
Mitra, A. K., Khoury, A. J., Hinton, A. W., & Carothers, C. (2004). Predictors of breastfeeding intention among low-income women. Maternal and Child Health Journal, 8(2), 65–70.PubMedCrossRef
34.
Racine, E. F., Frick, K., Guthrie, J. F., & Strobino, D. (2009). Individual net-benefit maximization: a model for understanding breastfeeding cessation among low-income women. Maternal and Child Health Journal, 13(2), 241–249.PubMedCrossRef
35.
Bunik, M., Krebs, N. F., Beaty, B., McClatchey, M., & Olds, D. L. (2009). Breastfeeding and WIC enrollment in the Nurse Family Partnership Program. Breastfeed Medicine, 4(3), 145–149.CrossRef
36.
Jacknowitz, A., Novillo, D., & Tiehen, L. (2007). Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children and infant feeding practices. Pediatrics, 119(2), 281–289.PubMedCrossRef
37.
US Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) (2008). National Center for Health Statistics. The 2007 National Immunization Survey. Hyattsville, MD: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
38.
39.
40.
41.
42.
Jensen, E., Labbok, M. (2010). Unintended consequences of the WIC formula rebate program on infant feeding outcomes: Will the new food packages be enough? Breastfeed Medicine.
43.
Oliveira, V., Davis, D. E. (2006). Recent trends and economic issues in the WIC infant formula rebate program 6657.
Metadata
Title
Participation in the Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) and Breastfeeding: National, Regional, and State Level Analyses
Author
Elizabeth Jensen
Publication date
01-04-2012
Publisher
Springer US
Published in
Maternal and Child Health Journal / Issue 3/2012
Print ISSN: 1092-7875
Electronic ISSN: 1573-6628
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10995-011-0796-7

Other articles of this Issue 3/2012

Maternal and Child Health Journal 3/2012 Go to the issue

BriefCommunication

Effects of an Integrated Care System on Quality of Care and Satisfaction for Children with Special Health Care Needs

OriginalPaper

Risk and Protective Factors for Pregnancy Outcomes for Urban Aboriginal and Non-Aboriginal Mothers and Infants: The Gudaga Cohort

Brief Reports

Assessing Indiana’s Health and Safety in Early Care and Education Programs: Identifying Areas for Improvement

OriginalPaper

A Population Study of 5 to 15 Year Olds: Full Time Maternal Employment not Associated with High BMI. The Importance of Screen-Based Activity, Reading for Pleasure and Sleep Duration in Children’s BMI

OriginalPaper

Family Socio-Demographic Factors and Maternal Obstetric Factors Influencing Appropriate Health-Care Seeking Behaviours for Newborn Jaundice in Sagamu, Nigeria

OriginalPaper

The Association of Maternal Mental Health with Prenatal Smoking Cessation and Postpartum Relapse in a Population-Based Sample