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Rates of Breastfeeding Initiation Increased Among Low-Income Women, 2009–17; Racial and Ethnic Disparities Persist

Author

Listed:
  • Hodges, Leslie
  • Guthrie, Joanne
  • Shetler, Anna
  • Thoma, Marie

Abstract

Breastfeeding offers health benefits to women and their children and is therefore promoted by USDA’s Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). Researchers at USDA, Economic Research Service and the University of Maryland described recent trends in breastfeeding initiation among low-income women by WIC participation status and by race and ethnicity. They studied trends since 2009, when revisions were made to WIC food packages that were intended to promote breastfeeding, among a suite of updates to improve the overall health of WIC participants. Breastfeeding initiation was determined from responses to a birth certificate question asking whether the infant was breastfeeding at the time of discharge from the hospital. Using that birth certificate data available from 24 States, the researchers found that breastfeeding initiation increased for low-income women in all racial and ethnic groups from 2009 to 2017. Moreover, gaps in rates of breastfeeding initiation between WIC participants and eligible nonparticipants within some racial and ethnic groups narrowed.

Suggested Citation

  • Hodges, Leslie & Guthrie, Joanne & Shetler, Anna & Thoma, Marie, 2023. "Rates of Breastfeeding Initiation Increased Among Low-Income Women, 2009–17; Racial and Ethnic Disparities Persist," Amber Waves:The Economics of Food, Farming, Natural Resources, and Rural America, United States Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service, vol. 2023, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:ags:uersaw:338936
    DOI: 10.22004/ag.econ.338936
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