261580 Assessing progress towards breastfeeding best practices in WIC programs: An evidence-based program assessment that promotes exclusive breastfeeding

Tuesday, October 30, 2012

Jennifer Goldbronn, MAS, RD, CLE , Department of Nutrition, Human Lactation Center, University of California Davis, Davis, CA
M. Jane Heinig, PhD, IBCLC , Human Lactation Center, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA
Background: Breastfeeding peer counseling (PC) programs improve breastfeeding outcomes by providing breastfeeding support and education to prenatal and postpartum women. Expansion of WIC breastfeeding support services in California made it necessary for the California WIC Program to identify the most important components of a successful PC program. Methods: A review of current literature related to PC program effects on breastfeeding rates was conducted and evidence-based indicators of successful PC programs were identified. An internal assessment evaluating local WIC agency breastfeeding services was developed based on the identified best practice indicators. Program indicators refer to policies or protocols that support successful breastfeeding outcomes. The assessment was field tested in 19 local WIC agencies across California. All California WIC agencies were invited to complete the assessment. Agencies applying for PC funds for fiscal year 2011/12 were required to complete the assessment as part of the Request for Funding (RFF) process. Results: A total of 44 WIC agencies completed the assessment. Results showed that total score on the assessment was significantly positively associated with exclusive breastfeeding at 2 months of age (R2=0.328, <0.001). Conclusions: Completion of this evidence-based assessment by local WIC agencies will help the California WIC Program identify strengths and weaknesses of current PC programs, target funding, and provide local agencies with best practice goals. Total assessment score was positively associated with exclusive breastfeeding at 2 months of age, supporting the assessment indicators identified as those that promote exclusive breastfeeding in WIC agencies during the first 2 months postpartum.

Learning Areas:
Conduct evaluation related to programs, research, and other areas of practice
Implementation of health education strategies, interventions and programs
Planning of health education strategies, interventions, and programs

Learning Objectives:
Identify evidence-based policies and/or protocols that promote exclusive breastfeeding in WIC peer counseling programs.

Keywords: Breast Feeding, Peer Counselors

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am a Registered Dietitian, have worked in public health breastfeeding programs for the last 7 years and have completed a Master’s Degree in Maternal Child Nutrition at University of California, Davis. I was the lead on this peer counseling assessment project and completed the literature review and assessment development.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

Back to: 4267.0: The Environmental and Programmatic Outcomes Associated With Breastfeeding