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The effect of WIC on breastfeeding: A new look at an established relationship

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  • Jiang, Miao
  • Foster, E. Michael
  • Gibson-Davis, Christina M.

Abstract

Although the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) has been credited with increasing birth weights and improving child health, the program has been criticized for reducing breastfeeding through the provision of free formula. Yet WIC recipients are socio-economically disadvantaged as compared to non-participants. As a result, whether lower breastfeeding rates reflect the effect of the program or the types of women who participate is unknown. Using data from the Panel Study of Income Dynamics -- Child Development Supplement, this study uses propensity scores and fixed-effects estimation to determine the effect of WIC on breastfeeding initiation and duration. Our study is the first to use a method other than Ordinary Least Squares to analyze the association between WIC and breastfeeding behaviors. Results indicate that the negative association is likely spurious, arising from the poor socio-demographic profile of participants.

Suggested Citation

  • Jiang, Miao & Foster, E. Michael & Gibson-Davis, Christina M., 2010. "The effect of WIC on breastfeeding: A new look at an established relationship," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 32(2), pages 264-273, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:cysrev:v:32:y:2010:i:2:p:264-273
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    1. 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.
    2. Sonchak, Lyudmyla, 2017. "The impact of WIC on breastfeeding initiation and gestational weight gain: Case study of South Carolina Medicaid mothers," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 79(C), pages 115-125.
    3. 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).
    4. Iryna Topolyan & Xu Xu, 2017. "Differential effects of mother’s and child’s postnatal WIC participation on breastfeeding," Applied Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 49(23), pages 2216-2225, May.
    5. Zhang, Qi & Chen, Chun & Xue, Hong & Park, Kayoung & Wang, Youfa, 2021. "Revisiting the relationship between WIC participation and breastfeeding among low-income children in the U.S. after the 2009 WIC food package revision," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 101(C).
    6. Martin-Anderson, Sarah, 2013. "Prenatal attitudes and parity predict selection into a U.S. child health program: A short report," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 95(C), pages 128-132.
    7. Sarah G. Buxbaum & Olumide Arigbede & Arlesia Mathis & Fran Close & Sandra G. Suther & Elizabeth Mazzio & Remelda Saunders-Jones & Karam F. A. Soliman & Selina F. Darling-Reed, 2023. "Disparities in Infant Nutrition: WIC Participation and Rates of Breastfeeding in Florida," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(11), pages 1-13, May.

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