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Impact of policy changes on infant feeding decisions among low-income Women participating in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children

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  • Whaley, S.E.
  • Koleilat, M.
  • Whaley, M.
  • Gomez, J.
  • Meehan, K.
  • Saluja, K.

Abstract

Objectives: We present infant feeding data before and after the 2009 Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) food package change that supported and incentivized breastfeeding. We describe the key role of California WIC staff in supporting these policy changes. Methods: We analyzed WIC data on more than 180 000 infants in Southern California. We employed the analysis of variance and Tukey (honestly significant difference) tests to compare issuance rates of postpartum and infant food packages before and after the changes. We used analysis of covariance to adjust for poverty status changes as a potential confounder. Results: Issuance rates of the "fully breastfeeding" package at infant WIC enrollment increased by 86% with the package changes. Rates also increased significantly for 2- and 6-month-old infants. Issuance rates of packages that included formula decreased significantly. All outcomes remained highly significant in the adjusted model. Conclusions: Policy changes, training of front-line WIC staff, and participant education influenced issuance rates of WIC food packages. In California, the issuance rates of packages that include formula have significantly decreased and the rate for those that include no formula has significantly increased.

Suggested Citation

  • Whaley, S.E. & Koleilat, M. & Whaley, M. & Gomez, J. & Meehan, K. & Saluja, K., 2012. "Impact of policy changes on infant feeding decisions among low-income Women participating in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 102(12), pages 2269-2273.
    • Handle: RePEc:aph:ajpbhl:10.2105/ajph.2012.300770_8
    DOI: 10.2105/AJPH.2012.300770
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    Cited by:

    1. Fatimah Sari & Bhisma Murti & Endang Sutisna S. & Kusnandar Kusnandar, 2020. "Health Promotion Model for Improvement of the Nutritional Status of Children Under Five Years," Global Journal of Health Science, Canadian Center of Science and Education, vol. 12(8), pages 144-144, July.
    2. Di, Hongyang & Ishdorj, Ariun & McKyer, Lisako, 2018. "Infant Feeding Practices: The Impact of WIC Policy Changes on Rural and Urban Participants," 2018 Annual Meeting, February 2-6, 2018, Jacksonville, Florida 266723, Southern Agricultural Economics Association.
    3. Kelin Li & Ming Wen & Megan Reynolds & Qi Zhang, 2019. "WIC Participation and Breastfeeding after the 2009 WIC Revision: A Propensity Score Approach," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(15), pages 1-12, July.
    4. Bersak, Tim & Sonchak-Ardan, Lyudmyla, 2021. "Marginal changes, marginal impacts: The limits of changes to WIC and their ability to influence breastfeeding rates," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 126(C).

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