MPC Member Publications

This database contains a listing of population studies publications written by MPC Members. Anyone can add a publication by an MPC student, faculty, or staff member to this database; new citations will be reviewed and approved by MPC administrators.

Full Citation

Title: Effects of Breastfeeding Peer Counseling on County-Level Breastfeeding Rates Among WIC Participants in Greater Minnesota

Citation Type: Journal Article

Publication Year: 2024

ISSN: 1049-3867

DOI: 10.1016/J.WHI.2023.12.001

Abstract: Objective: U.S. breastfeeding outcomes consistently fall short of public health targets, with lower rates among rural and low-income people, as well as participants in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). The U.S. Department of Agriculture funded a subset of local WIC agencies in Minnesota to implement Breastfeeding Peer Counseling Programs (BFPCs) aimed at improving breastfeeding rates. We examined the impact of BFPCs on breastfeeding rates among WIC participants in Greater Minnesota (outside the Minneapolis–St. Paul metropolitan area). Methods: We used data from the Minnesota WIC Information System for the years 2012 through 2019 to estimate the impact of peer counseling on breastfeeding duration using difference-in-differences models. Additionally, we examined results among rural counties and assessed the possibility of spillover effects by stratifying whether a county without BFPCs bordered one with BFPCs. Results: Availability of BFPCs resulted in a 3.1 to 3.4 percentage-point increase in breastfeeding rates at 3 months and a 3.2 to 3.7 percentage-point increase in breastfeeding rates at 6 months among WIC participants in Greater Minnesota. Among rural counties, results showed a statistically significant 4.1 to 5.2 percentage-point increase in breastfeeding duration rates. Both border and nonborder counties experienced positive impacts of BFPCs on breastfeeding rates, suggesting wide-ranging program spillover effects. Conclusions: BFPCs had a significant positive impact on breastfeeding duration. Findings indicate an opportunity for improving rural breastfeeding rates through increased funding for WIC BFPCs.

User Submitted?: No

Authors: Interrante, Julia D.; Fritz, Alyssa H.; McCoy, Marcia B.; Kozhimannil, Katy Backes

Periodical (Full): Women's Health Issues

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