Likelihood of Breastfeeding Within the USDA's Food and Nutrition Service Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children Population.
Bailey Houghtaling, Carmen Byker Shanks, Mica Jenkins
PMID 28135478WHAT IT FOUND
Prenatal WIC enrollment, peer counseling, and positive provider interactions increased breastfeeding likelihood among low-income participants.
Early intention to breastfeed and specific food package incentives also predicted initiation and duration.
Key findings
01Participants enrolled in WIC during the first or second trimesters were more likely to breastfeed than those enrolled later.
02Support from health care professionals, peer counseling, and family increased the likelihood of breastfeeding.
03Intention to breastfeed during pregnancy strongly predicted the infant-feeding method used after birth.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
The review intentionally excluded studies reporting negative or neutral results, focusing only on factors that increased likelihood, which may bias the overall picture of breastfeeding determinants. The search period (2004-2014) spans significant changes in WIC policies and breastfeeding practices, which were not fully controlled for in the analysis. Only peer-reviewed articles were included, potentially excluding relevant government documents or dissertations. No specific quality parameters were set for study inclusion, leading to potential variation in the merit of the included studies. The number of articles per theme was limited, necessitating further investigation into each specific outcome. The review did not include a meta-analysis, so effect sizes for the identified factors were not quantified.
Declared interests
The authors declared no conflicts of interest. The review was exempt from institutional review board review as no human participants were involved in the research itself.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume that WIC enrollment alone improves breastfeeding rates. The review highlights that the timing of enrollment (early vs. late) and the quality of social and provider support are critical mediators. Simply enrolling a patient in WIC without addressing these supportive factors may not yield the same benefits.