Breast-feeding initiation in low-income women: Role of attitudes, support, and perceived control.

Despite the documented health and emotional benefits of breast-feeding to women and children, breast-feeding rates are low among subgroups of women. In this study, we examine factors associated with breast-feeding initiation in low-income women, including Theory of Planned Behavior measures of attitude, support, and perceived control, as well as sociodemographic characteristics. A mail survey, with telephone follow-up, of 733 postpartum Medicaid beneficiaries in Mississippi was conducted in 2000.

Predictors of breastfeeding intention among low-income women.

Objective: Breastfeeding rates are below the Healthy People 2010 goals despite recognized benefits of breastfeeding. This study determined factors that predict breastfeeding initiation among low-income pregnant women.

Methods: A self-administered closed-ended questionnaire was introduced to 694 pregnant women who were certified for WIC in Mississippi.

The loving support breastfeeding campaign: awareness and practices of health care providers in Mississippi.

Objectives: To evaluate the impact of the national breastfeeding promotion campaign, Loving Support Makes Breastfeeding Work, on health care providers in Mississippi.

Design: Cross-sectional study.

Setting: The Mississippi WIC (Women, Infants, and Children) program implemented the national Loving Support project for the state.

Evaluation of a comprehensive loving support program among state Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program breast-feeding coordinators.

Background: Mississippi was selected as a pilot state in the national breastfeeding promotion campaign titled Loving Support Makes Breastfeeding Work (LSMBW). To reinforce the national LSMBW project, the Mississippi Women, Infants and Children (WIC) Breastfeeding Promotion Project Team developed a comprehensive program that included patient and family education, staff training, public awareness activities, health professional outreach, and partnerships with the community. The program also implemented a breastfeeding-friendly clinic environment project and a videotape project.

Improving breastfeeding knowledge, attitudes, and practices of WIC clinic staff.

Objective: This study was conducted to assess the impact of a breastfeeding promotion clinic environment project implemented by the state of Mississippi on breastfeeding knowledge, attitudes, and practices of WIC clinic staff.

Methods: Thirteen pairs of matched intervention and comparison WIC clinics participated in the study. Clinical and administrative staff completed pre-test and post-test self-administered questionnaires in 1998 and 1999.

An innovative video succeeds in addressing barriers to breastfeeding among low-income women.

This study evaluates the effectiveness of an innovative breastfeeding promotion video intervention in addressing barriers to breastfeeding among low-income women in the state of Mississippi. The 15-minute video features a diverse group of women and their families. Survey data were collected from Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children clients in the intervention group (n = 310) before and after watching the video, and from a comparison group (n = 204) that did not watch the video.