Effect of Prenatal and Postpartum Food Security Status on Breastfeeding Initiation and Duration in Massachusetts WIC Participants 2001–2009

Abstract

This study examined the association between household food insecurity during pregnancy and initiation/duration of breastfeeding in Massachusetts WIC women. Full term, live singleton births of mother's certified into WIC prenatally who had complete food security, breastfeeding and covariate data (maternal race, age, education, smoking status, BMI, HH income and size, birth weight and sex) were included (n=27,112). Multivariate logistic regression was used to estimate the association between food security status and breastfeeding initiation and among initiators, food security status continued breastfeeding for 3, 6 and 12 months. Low prenatal food security was associated with lower likelihood of breastfeeding initiation compared to food secure women (OR=0.87, p<.0001). Prenatal very low prenatal food security was not significantly associated with initiation rates (p >; .05). Low postpartum HH food security status was associated with a greater likelihood of breastfeeding at least three and six months compared to those who were food secure during the postpartum period (OR=1.08 and 1.11, p<0.05). There was no association between prenatal food security and breastfeeding duration. Prenatal and postpartum food security status may influence the decision to initiate breastfeeding and sustain breastfeeding.