Evaluating the feasibility of using single-user electric breast pumps to increase breastfeeding duration rates for WIC participants

Introduction or Background: Breastfeeding is the recommended form of feeding for all infants throughout the first year of life. In Colorado, the breastfeeding duration rate for WIC participants at 6 months is 29.5%; this is below the Healthy People 2010 Objectives (50%).

Program Design/Methodology: A pilot study was conducted to compare WIC participants' breastfeeding duration rates and feasibility of using single-user electric breast pumps vs. WIC loaned electric breast pumps. The 1½ year pilot followed 42 WIC breastfeeding mothers (21 using loaned pumps; 20 using single-user pumps) in rural and urban settings who were separated from their infants >30 hours a week and planned to offer breastmilk for at least one year. Time and cost analyses were completed to determine the differences between the two pumps.

Program Evaluation Results: Results showed that, on average, mothers who used the single-user pump offered breastmilk 3 months longer (9½ months vs. 6½ months; p=.008) and started formula later (5 months vs. 4 months; p=.12) than mothers who used the loaned pump. WIC saved, on average, 2 hours of staff time and $43 in staff salary and pump costs when the single-user pump was used compared to the loaned pump. Following the completion of the pilot study, 65% (n=108) of the WIC mothers who have used the single-user pumps breastfed their infants exclusively for their infants' first year of life.

Discussion: The results of this study indicated that the single-user breast pumps may increase breastfeeding duration rates of WIC participants and can be a cost and time savings to WIC agencies.