Outcome Evaluation of the You Can Do It Initiative to Promote Exclusive Breastfeeding Among Women Enrolled in the New York State WIC Program by Race/Ethnicity

ObjectiveTo evaluate the effectiveness of You Can Do It at improving exclusive breastfeeding (BF) among New York State women enrolled in Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC).DesignQuasi-experimental study, September, 2013 through February, 2016.SettingMulticomponent intervention paired with a yearlong learning community in 12 clinics.ParticipantsWomen who were enrolled in WIC during the first trimester, intended to breastfeed or were undecided, and continued in WIC after delivery, comprised 1 baseline cohort (n = 688) and 2 intervention cohorts: Breastfeeding Attrition Prediction Tool (BAPT) (consented, n = 362) and non-BAPT (declined, n = 408).InterventionThe BAPT was offered to all eligible women in the intervention enrollment period. Consenting women received multiple counseling sessions tailored to individual BAPT results throughout pregnancy and were contacted promptly after delivery.Main Outcome Measure(s)Prevalence of exclusive BF at 7, 30, and 60 days.AnalysisMultivariate logistic regression, stratified by race/ethnicity. Statistical significance set at P < .05.ResultsPrevalence of exclusive BF at 7 and 30 days was significantly higher among BAPT women compared with non-BAPT or baseline cohorts. Non-Hispanic black and Hispanic women in the BAPT cohort achieved significantly higher exclusive BF rates at 30 and 60 days compared with those in non-BAPT and baseline cohorts.Conclusions and ImplicationThe initiative seems to be effective at increasing exclusive BF, particularly among non-Hispanic black and Hispanic women in the New York State WIC program.