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Strengthen the Evidence for Maternal and Child Health Programs

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Items in this list may be obtained from the sources cited. Contact information reflects the most current data about the source that has been provided to the MCH Digital Library.

Displaying records 1 through 20 (36 total).

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention . 2023. Public health strategies for breastfeeding . Atlanta, GA: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,

Annotation: This website outlines public health strategies for supporting breastfeeding. It emphasizes the health benefits of breastfeeding for both infants and mothers and recommends exclusive breastfeeding for about the first 6 months, with continued breastfeeding and introduction of complementary foods up to 12 months or longer. The site highlights the importance of continuity of care in addressing disparities in breastfeeding rates across different racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic groups. It provides examples of tools and programs from various states, including Minnesota, Texas, California, and Wisconsin, that support breastfeeding-friendly practices in health departments, worksites, community health centers, and childcare centers.

Keywords: Breast feeding, Breast feeding promotion, Public health

Meek JY, Noble L. 2022. Policy statement: Breastfeeding and the use of human milk. Itasca, IL: American Academy of Pediatrics,

Annotation: This updated policy statement addresses infant feeding from a public health perspective, promoting breastfeeding for optimal health and nutrition. Topics covered include epidemiology, health equity, exclusive breastfeeding, and duration of breastfeeding, as well as contraindications and special circumstances that may make breastfeeding difficult. A companion technical report provides the evidence and basis for the recommendations.

Keywords: Breastfeeding, Infant feeding, Infant nutrition, Policy , Public health

MilkWorks. 2022. Milk works exclusive pumping guide. Lincoln, NE: MilkWorks, 2 pp.

Annotation: This guide explains to mothers the importance of feeding their babies with breastmilk even if they have to use a breast pump, and how to go about pumping, reaching a full milk supply, and weaning from the pump.

Keywords: Breast feeding promotion, Lactation management

Segura-Pérez S, Hromi-Fiedler A, Adnew M, Nyhan K, Pérez-Escamilla R . 2021. Impact of breastfeeding intervention among United States minority women on breastfeeding outcomes: A systematic review. BioMed Central Ltd. The International Journal for Equity in Health., 25 pp.

Annotation: This literature review analyses interventions that target minority (African-American and Hispanic) women, who are less likely to meet their breastfeeding goals. It concludes that policy and community level interventions delivered through WIC, healthcare facilities, and community agencies are likely to improve breastfeeding outcomes among women of color, and that further research is recommended strongly recommended to conduct large scale implementation research studies addressesing how to strengthen the different health and social environments surrounding women of color in the U.S. to improving their BF outcomes.

Keywords: Breast feeding promotion programs, Literature reviews, Minority groups

National Association of County and City Health Officials; United States Breastfeeding Committee. . 2021. The continuity of care in breastfeeding support blueprint . Washington, DC: National Association of County and City Health Officials,

Annotation: This resource povides information on breastfeeding barriers and support services centered on the needs of populations disproportionately impacted by structural barriers that lead to low rates of breastfeeding. The resource underscores the importance of breastfeeding support services that are continuous, accessible, and coordinated, and provides recommendations and strategies that are consistently supportive of chest/breastfeeding families. The targetedd audience is local-level organizations and individuals that interacts with pregnant and postpartum families.

Keywords: Barriers, Breast feeding promotion, Community based services, Lactation management, Public health

Oliveira V, Prell M, Cheng X. 2019. The economic impacts of breastfeeding: A focus on USDA’s Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). Economic Research Service, 66 pp. (Economic Research Report)

Annotation: This study estimates the effects that increased breastfeeding rates in WIC would have on the number of WIC participants, costs to WIC and Medicaid, and health-related costs that accrue to WIC households or their health insurance providers. It was found that costs of WIC would go up (by over $100M) if rates improved as aimed at, but costs to insurance and health care providers could go down by more than $9B. Since breastfeeding rates among participants in USDA's Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) are lower than the U.S. average, this information could be economically beneficial.

Keywords: Breast feeding promotion, Economics, Medicaid, WIC Program

Feltner C, Weber RP, Stuebe A, Grodensky CA, Orr C, Viswanathan M. 2018. Breastfeeding programs and policies, breastfeeding uptake, and maternal health outcomes in developed countries . Rockville, MD: U.S. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality , 524 pp.

National Association of County and City Health Officials. 2018. Breastfeeding in the community: Program implementation guide - Reducing disparities in breastfeeding through peer and professional support, 2014-2018. Washington, DC: National Association of County and City Health Officials, 79 pp.

Annotation: This implementation guide / reference document is a resource to support program implementation and management of breastfeeding program activities. It focuses on supporting local-level agencies with limited funds to successfully implement community-level breastfeeding programs, services and activities. Using infographics, webinar links, tools and templates, it explains the public health implications of breastfeeding, inequities in BF rates, and how to address those inequities. NACCHO’s Breastfeeding Project is to increase implementation of evidence-based and innovative breastfeeding programs, practices, and services at the community level, specifically focused on peer and professional lactation support to breastfeeding mothers in predominantly African American and underserved communities.

Keywords: Breast feeding promotion, Health inequity, Lactation management, Low-income families, Minority groups, Public health

Arbour M, Mackrain M, Fitzgerald E, Atwood S. 2018. National quality improvement initiative in home visiting services improves breastfeeding initiation and duration. Academic Pediatrics, 9 pp.

Annotation: This journal article discusses how the rates of breastfeeding can be improved by home visiting servcies through a process of continuous quality improvement called the Breakthrough Series Collaborative model. From 2013 to 2016, the Home Visiting Collaborative Improvement and Innovation Network (HV CoIIN) enrolled 15 home visiting agencies serving 1000 families in seven states to increase breastfeeding among participants with very low baseline breastfeeding rates.

Keywords: Breast feeding, Home visits, Quality improvement

Meek JY, ed. 2017. New mother's guide to breastfeeding (3rd ed.). Itasca, IL: American Academy of Pediatrics, 304 pp.

Annotation: This handbook answers common questions about breastfeeding. The handbook discusses the choice to breastfeed; explains how breastfeeding works; and provides information about getting ready for a newborn, first feedings, special situations, going home, nutrition, common problems, breastfeeding beyond infancy, separations from the infant, the father's role, and weaning.

Keywords: Breastfeeding, Consumer education materials, Fathers, Infant feeding, Infants, Mothers, Newborn infants, Nutrition, Weaning, Young children

Pickett OK, Wilhite BC. 2017. Breastfeeding: Perofessional resource brief (upd. ed.). Washington, DC: National Center for Education in Maternal and Child Health, 1 p.

Whaley S, Perez-Escamilla R, Segura-Perez S, Lott M. 2017. Feeding infants and young toddlers: Using the latest evidence in WIC settings. Durham, NC: Healthy Eating Research, 19 pp.

Annotation: This brief summarizes feeding guidelines for pregnant women and infants and children from birth to age 2 that are relevant to the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). Topics include WIC services and an overview of the feeding guidelines. The applications of the feeding guidelines in the WIC setting, including staff training on the guidelines, participant education, and breastfeeding support,are also discussed.

Keywords: Breastfeeding, Federal programs, Feeding, Guidelines, Infants, Nutrition, Nutrition programs, Oral health, Pregnant women, WIC Program

Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. 2017. Feeding infants and young toddlers: Using the latest evidence in child-care settings. Princeton, NJ: Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, 21 pp.

Annotation: This brief summarizes evidence for promoting healthy nutrition in the early care and education setting. Topics include breastfeeding, shaping food preferences among infants and toddlers, the role of the feeding environment and responsive feeding, introducing infants to complementary foods, and recognizing infants’ and toddlers’ hunger and fullness cues. Feeding strategies to reduce the likelihood that children will develop tooth decay are provided. Policy and practice implications are included.

Keywords: Breastfeeding, Child care, Complementary feeding, Early childhood education, Feeding, Food allergies, Food preferences, Food safety, Guidelines, Health promotion, Infants, Nutrition, Physical activity, Policy development, Toddlers, Young children

National Association of County and City Health Officials. 2017. Shifting the care paradigm: Cultural humility in breastfeeding care. Washington, DC: National Association of County and City Health Officials, 4 pp.

Annotation: This factsheet States that lactation specialists need not be of the same race/culture of their target audience, but that cultural humility and sensitivity are needed in order for them to be effective counselors. It also describes the training in cultural humility provided to all grantees during Year 1 of a project funded in 2015. The training was presented at the 2016 National Head Start Conference, the 2016 California WIC Association, and also requested for 2018 Arizona WIC Conference.

Keywords: Breast feeding promotion, Cultural diversity, Lactation management, Minority groups

Schanler RJ, Krebs NF, Mass SB, eds. 2014. Breastfeeding handbook for physicians (2nd ed). Washington, DC: American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists; Elk Grove Village, IL: American Academy of Pediatrics, 320 pp.

Annotation: This book provides health care professionals and students in all specialties with a teaching and reference aid to enhance their knowledge of breastfeeding physiology and clinical practice to encourage and support breastfeeding. Topics include the rationale for promoting breastfeeding, composition of human milk, anatalomy and physiology of lactation, managing breastfeeding before and after conception, peripartum care, postpartum care in the hospital and at home, infant and mother m=breastfeeding maintenance, supoorting breastfeeding during mother-infant separation, lactation support, medications and breastfeeding, contraception, and breastfeeding and preterm infants and other special circumstances. Appendices provide resources and professional position statements on breastfeeding.

Keywords: Breastfeeding, Child nutrition, Complementary feeding, Health promotion, Infant feeding, Infant nutrition, Lactation, Lactation management, Maternal health, Resources for professionals

Live Well Omaha Kids and the Nebraska Breastfeeding Coalition. 2014. Really? Really.. Omaha, NE: Live Well Omaha Kids, multiple items.

Food and Drug Administration. 2013. Breast pumps: Don't be misled - get the facts. Washington, DC: Food and Drug Administration, 2 pp. (Consumer health information)

Annotation: This fact sheet informs breastfeeding mothers returning to work, or otherwise away from their infants, about important benefits of expressing milk via breast pumps. It offers advice on choosing the right pump kit, getting advice from a lactation consultant, basics about breast pump kits, choosing to buy or rent a kit, and keeping all parts of the kit clean and disinfected.

Keywords: Breast pumps, Breastfeeding, Consumer education materials, Infant feeding, Lactation management

Breastfeeding Coalition of Washington. [2012]. My guide to working and breastfeeding: Tips on how to make working and breastfeeding work for you. [Seattle, WA]: Breastfeeding Coalition of Washington, 12 pp.

Annotation: This brochure, which is geared toward working mothers who are breastfeeding, provides information about how to successfully breastfeed while working outside the home. The brochure discusses why it is important to continue breastfeeding after returning to work, introducing a bottle, choosing child care, rights of breastfeeding women, pumping and storing breastmilk at work, creating a back-to-work plan, and overcoming challenges. The brochure is available in English and Spanish.

Keywords: Bottle feeding, Breastfeeding, Breastfeeding promotion, Child care, Consumer education materials, Infant health, Parent child relations, Parent rights, Spanish language materials, Women's rights, Working mothers

U.S. Office of the Surgeon General. 2011. The Surgeon General's call to action to support breastfeeding. Washington, DC: U.S. Office of the Surgeon General, 88 pp., exec. summ. (4 pp.).

Annotation: This report describes steps that mothers and their families, communities, clinicians, employers, researchers, and government leaders can take to participate in a society-wide approach to support mothers and babies who are breastfeeding. Topics include the importance of breastfeeding, rates of breastfeeding, and barriers to breastfeeding in the United States. Recommended actions and their associated implementation strategies are detailed.

Keywords: Barriers, Breastfeeding promotion, Community action, Infant feeding, Infant nutrition, Lactation management, National initiatives, Public health infrastructure, Public policy, Public private partnerships

Valrose J, Dillon K, Schauben L, Alizaga N. 2010. Breastfeeding supports and challenges: Mothers' perspectives on healthcare, worksites and social influences. St. Paul, MN: Minnesota Department of Health, Physical Activity and Nutrition Program and Wilder Research, 59 pp.

Annotation: This report describes findings from focus groups and interviews with a diverse cross section of mothers of infants in MInnesota. The research -- conducted by the Minnesota Department of Health’s Physical Activity and Nutrition Unit and Women, Infants and Children (WIC) Program in partnership with Wilder Research -- is based on questions that centered on the supports for and challenges of breastfeeding infants, particularly in relation to their experiences with health care settings, worksites, and social influences. The report discusses the characteristics of participants; their perceived knowledge of infant feeding; the knowledge and influence of health care providers; and worksite support and other social influences for infant feeding; Included are a summary of findings among specific populations (Native American women; Latina women; Somali women; Hmong women; and women with low levels of education). Recommendations are included.

Keywords: Breastfeeding, Focus groups, Infant feeding, Interviews, Minnesota, Research, State initiatives
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The MCH Library is one of six special collections at Georgetown University, the nation's oldest Jesuit institution of higher education. The library is supported through foundation, private, university, state, and federal funding. This information or content and conclusions are those of the authors and should not be construed as the official position or policy of, nor should any endorsements be inferred by Georgetown University or the U.S. Government. Note: web pages whose development was supported by federal government grants are being reviewed to comply with applicable Executive Orders.