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Associations Between Peer Counseling and Breastfeeding Initiation and Duration: An Analysis of Minnesota Participants in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)

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Abstract

Background Peer counseling (PC) has been associated with increased breastfeeding initiation and duration, but few analyses have examined the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) model for peer counseling or the continuation of breastfeeding from birth through 12 months postpartum. Objectives Identify associations between Minnesota WIC Peer Breastfeeding Support Program services and breastfeeding initiation and continuation. Methods Retrospective analysis of observational data from the Minnesota WIC program’s administrative database of women who gave birth in 2012 and accepted a PC program referral prenatally (n = 2219). Multivariate logistic regression and Cox regression models examined associations between peer services and breastfeeding initiation and continuation of any breastfeeding. Results Among women who accepted referral into a PC program, odds of initiation were significantly higher among those who received peer services (Odds Ratio (OR): 1.66; 95% CI 1.19–2.32), after adjusting for confounders. Women who received peer services had a significantly lower hazard of breastfeeding discontinuation from birth through 12 months postpartum than women who did not receive services. (Hazard Ratio (HR) month one: 0.45; 95% CI 0.33–0.61; months two through twelve: 0.33; 95% CI 0.18–0.60). The effect of peer counseling did not differ significantly by race and ethnicity, taking into account mother’s country of origin. Conclusion for practice Receipt of peer services was positively associated with breastfeeding initiation and continued breastfeeding from birth through 12 months postpartum. Making peer services available to more women, especially in communities with low initiation and duration, could improve maternal and child health in Minnesota.

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank the staff at the Minnesota Department of Health WIC program and Ellen Demerath, Pamela Shreiner, Katy Backes Kozhimannil and Mikaela Robertson for their assistance with this project. Jill Wilson, Barbara King, and the peers of the Hennepin County peer program provided invaluable support, insight and inspiration.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Community and Family Health, Supplemental Nutrition Program, Minnesota Department of Health, P. O. Box 64882, St. Paul, MN, 55164, USA

    Marcia Burton McCoy, Joni Geppert & Linda Dech

  2. Division of Pediatric Epidemiology and Clinical Research, University of Minnesota, 2450 Riverside Avenue, Minneapolis, MN, 55454, USA

    Michaela Richardson

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  1. Marcia Burton McCoy
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  2. Joni Geppert
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  3. Linda Dech
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Correspondence to Marcia Burton McCoy.

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The authors declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

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McCoy, M.B., Geppert, J., Dech, L. et al. Associations Between Peer Counseling and Breastfeeding Initiation and Duration: An Analysis of Minnesota Participants in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). Matern Child Health J 22, 71–81 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10995-017-2356-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10995-017-2356-2

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