Maternal and Child Health: Nutrition and Breastfeeding

Maternal and Child Health Programs

• Nutrition has been an important component of maternal and child health programs since the establishment of milk stations in the 1890s
• The initial focus was on breastfeeding and the safety of milk and baby foods
• Breastfeeding is recommended by medical and public health organizations for the first 6 months of an infant's life and continued until at least their first birthday

Benefits of Breastfeeding

• Reduces the risk of infectious diseases, ear infections, respiratory infections, obesity, and chronic diseases such as asthma and allergies
• Offers the healthiest start in life for most infants

Breastfeeding Rates

• In 2016, 84% of infants were ever breastfed
• 57% of infants were still breastfed at 6 months and 36% were still breastfed at 12 months
• Rates vary depending on the age and education of the mothers
• 72% of women with a high school diploma or less initiated breastfeeding, compared to 88% of women with at least a bachelor's degree
• 69% of women younger than age 20 initiated breastfeeding
• In 2016, 78% of white mothers, 60% of black mothers, and 85% of Hispanic mothers breastfed

Food Assistance Programs

• The federal government established food assistance programs during the Great Depression of the 1930s
• The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) provides vouchers for nutritious foods and nutrition education
• WIC is effective in saving medical costs for participating women and infants

School Meals Program

• The School Meals Program provides school lunches that meet certain nutritional standards
• Children from households with incomes at or below 185% of the poverty level receive lunches for free or at reduced prices
• A limited number of children receive free or reduced-price school breakfasts and after-school snacks
• The Summer Food Service Program provides meals during school vacation periods

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)

• SNAP provides an electronic benefits transfer card to families based on their size and income
• The card can be used to buy nutritious foods at grocery stores
• Benefits cannot be used to purchase alcohol, tobacco, or nonfood items
• Some limitations are placed on immigrant families' eligibility to receive SNAP benefits

Food Insecurity

• 11.1% of households were food insecure in 2018, meaning they had limited or uncertain access to nutritionally adequate foods
• Families headed by single women with children and black and Hispanic households are the most likely to experience food insecurity