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Peer-reviewedCC BY 4.0Birth (Berkeley, Calif.)

Women, Infants and Children (WIC) Participation and Breastfeeding Behavior: Comparing Foreign‐Born to US‐Born Mothers

  • Angela G. Campbell1
  1. 1Department of Applied Health Science, School of Public Health Indiana University Bloomington Indiana USA
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Abstract

Background: This cross‐sectional study compared rates of breastfeeding initiation and exclusive breastfeeding among foreign‐born mothers who utilized the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program with foreign‐born non‐participants and US‐born WIC participants.

Methods: Sample children from the nationally representative dataset, the National Survey of Children's Health 2016–2022, ages 6 months to 1 year were included. Descriptive statistics and logistic regressions were executed for analysis.

Results: 91.8% of foreign‐born women who utilized WIC initiated breastfeeding and 34.8% exclusively breastfed for 6 months. By comparison, 68.2% of US‐born women who utilized WIC initiated breastfeeding and 10.4% exclusively breastfed for 6 months. Foreign‐born women who utilized WIC had 4.04 times the odds [95% CI (1.49, 10.97)] of initiating breastfeeding relative to foreign‐born women who did not utilize WIC. Foreign‐born women who utilized WIC also had 7.42 times the odds [95% CI (3.22, 17.11)] of initiating breastfeeding and 3.47 times the odds [95% CI (1.52, 7.95)] of exclusive breastfeeding for 6 months relative to US‐born women who utilized WIC (adjusted for household federal poverty level, preterm birth, birth order of sample child, sample child's race and mother's age, education, and marital status).

Conclusion: Foreign‐born women who utilized WIC had increased breastfeeding behavior relative to both foreign‐born women who did not utilize WIC and US‐born women who utilized WIC. This suggests that, rather than WIC contributing to lower breastfeeding rates, there is an unobserved characteristic that is correlated with lower breastfeeding rates among US‐born women who utilize WIC that also encourages selection into the program.

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Cite

BibTeXRIS
BibTeX
@article{campbell2026women,
  title = {{Women, Infants and Children (WIC) Participation and Breastfeeding Behavior: Comparing Foreign‐Born to US‐Born Mothers}},
  author = {Angela G. Campbell},
  journal = {Birth (Berkeley, Calif.)},
  year = {2026},
  month = may,
  doi = {10.1111/birt.70081},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.1111/birt.70081},
  note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY  - JOUR
TI  - Women, Infants and Children (WIC) Participation and Breastfeeding Behavior: Comparing Foreign‐Born to US‐Born Mothers
AU  - Angela G. Campbell
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/05/29
JO  - Birth (Berkeley, Calif.)
DO  - 10.1111/birt.70081
UR  - https://doi.org/10.1111/birt.70081
AB  - Background: This cross‐sectional study compared rates of breastfeeding initiation and exclusive breastfeeding among foreign‐born mothers who utilized the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program with foreign‐born non‐participants and US‐born WIC participants.  Methods: Sample children from the nationally representative dataset, the National Survey of Children's Health 2016–2022, ages 6 months to 1 year were included. Descriptive statistics and logistic regressions were executed for analysis.  Results: 91.8% of foreign‐born women who utilized WIC initiated breastfeeding and 34.8% exclusively breastfed for 6 months. By comparison, 68.2% of US‐born women who utilized WIC initiated breastfeeding and 10.4% exclusively breastfed for 6 months. Foreign‐born women who utilized WIC had 4.04 times the odds [95% CI (1.49, 10.97)] of initiating breastfeeding relative to foreign‐born women who did not utilize WIC. Foreign‐born women who utilized WIC also had 7.42 times the odds [95% CI (3.22, 17.11)] of initiating breastfeeding and 3.47 times the odds [95% CI (1.52, 7.95)] of exclusive breastfeeding for 6 months relative to US‐born women who utilized WIC (adjusted for household federal poverty level, preterm birth, birth order of sample child, sample child's race and mother's age, education, and marital status).  Conclusion: Foreign‐born women who utilized WIC had increased breastfeeding behavior relative to both foreign‐born women who did not utilize WIC and US‐born women who utilized WIC. This suggests that, rather than WIC contributing to lower breastfeeding rates, there is an unobserved characteristic that is correlated with lower breastfeeding rates among US‐born women who utilize WIC that also encourages selection into the program.
SN  - 0730-7659
SN  - 1523-536X
ER  -