Background: African American women continue to experience low rates of breastfeeding initiation as well as low rates of exclusive breastfeeding for 6 months. Research has indicated that there are several social determinants that impact breastfeeding rates, but there is a dearth of literature that allows African American women to give voice to their experiences. In addition, research has shown women, infant, and children (WIC) participants to have lower breastfeeding rates than non-WIC eligible women. Research Aim/Question: The aim of this systematic review was to examine the relationship between WIC program participation and breastfeeding initiation and duration among non-Hispanic African American/Black women. Methods: The approach for this review used the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA). Four online databases, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), Cochrane Library, MEDLINE, and SCOPUS, were used to search for peer-reviewed articles and grey literature. Results: Two hundred eighteen articles were retrieved through the database search and underwent initial screening, yielding 59 potential eligible articles. Full-text articles were further reviewed and 11 met the inclusion criteria and were included in this systematic review. Conclusions: Included studies show mixed results regarding the association between WIC participation and breastfeeding initiation, but there is a general negative association between WIC participation and breastfeeding duration, especially among Black women.
Keywords: Black/African American; WIC; breastfeeding; social determinants of health.