Publications [#145239] of Christina M. Gibson-Davis

Papers Submitted

1. C.M. Gibson-Davis and E.M. Foster, The Effect of WIC on Breastfeeding: (2008)
   (last updated on 2008/04/14)

   Abstract:
   Although the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) has been credited with increasing birth weights and improving child health, the program has also been criticized for decreasing breastfeeding rates through its provision of free formula. Yet WIC recipients are socio-economically disadvantaged as compared to non participants. As a result, it is difficult to know whether the program itselfdecreases breastfeeding or if lower breastfeeding rates are a function of the mothers who participate in WIC. Using data from the Panel Study of Income Dynamics – Child Supplement, this study uses propensity scores and fixed effects estimation to determine the effect of WIC on breastfeeding initiation and duration. Our study is the first to use a method other than Ordinary Least Squares to analyze the association between WIC and breastfeeding behaviors. Results indicate that the negative association is likely spurious, arising from the poor sociodemographic profile of participants. Given that these datawere collected largely before WIC instituted a breastfeeding promotion program, we conclude that our results do not reflect this initiative and that the negative association between WIC and breastfeeding may have received undue attention.