Breastfeeding
Improve annual breastfeeding outcomes of Indiana WIC participants through promotion and support of breastfeeding mothers.
Introduction
The Indiana WIC program provides supplemental foods, health care referrals, breastfeeding support, and nutrition education for low-income pregnant, breastfeeding, and non-breastfeeding postpartum women, and to infants and children up to age five who are found to be at nutritional risk. WIC promotes breastfeeding as the optimal method of infant nutrition.
Breastfeeding support and promotion continue to be one of the main goals for the Indiana WIC Program. Parents who breastfeed are eligible for a larger food package and longer participation in the program. The Indiana WIC program provides several breastfeeding supports for clients including breastfeeding education, breastfeeding supplies and aids, and access to Peer Counselors and Designated Breastfeeding Experts.
As part of the requirements for administering the WIC program, Indiana WIC reports client breastfeeding data to USDA’s Food & Nutrition Service (FNS), which is included in the Breastfeeding Data by Local Agency (BFDLA) report each year. The BFDLA report compares all local WIC agencies across the country on their client breastfeeding status by certification category, specifically looking at the infants who participated in the program in a given fiscal year.
WIC infant categories include:
– Fully Breastfeeding (IBE)
– Breastfeeding Partial (IBP)
– Fully Formula (IFF)
– Breastfeeding Partial (IBP)
– Fully Formula (IFF)
The goal of WIC Breastfeeding Promotion & Support is to improve the percentage of clients who fall within the Fully and Partial Breastfeeding categories, with an emphasis on improving exclusivity.
This report presents Indiana WIC client breastfeeding data statewide by individual county and agency.
Trends in Breastfeeding 
Figure 1. Indiana WIC Program Trends in Breastfeeding, 2012-2022
The breastfeeding initiation rate among the Indiana WIC Program population has been improving over time, increasing from 67.8% in 2012 to 73.0% in 2022 (Figure 1).
Figure 2. Trends in Breastfeeding Initiation by Race/Ethnicity, 2012-2022
The breastfeeding initiation rate is increasing across almost all racial and ethnic groups (Figure 2). Although the breastfeeding initiation rate remains the lowest among the Black WIC population, this group experienced a consistent rate of increase over the decade, rising by almost 15% from 59.8% in 2012 to 74.7% in 2022.
Prevalence of Breastfeeding
Figure 3. Percentage of Infants Breastfed for at Least 3, 6 And 12 Months by Race and Ethnicity, FY22
Compared to all other races/ethnicities, Asian WIC clients had the highest prevalence of breastfeeding at 3, 6, and 12 months (44.3%, 35.9%, and 27.0% respectively) (Figure 3).
Figure 4. Prevalence of Breastfeeding Duration Among Ever Breastfed Infants, FY22
Nearly 90% of breastfeeding women in the Indiana WIC Program continue breastfeeding to the first week (Figure 4).
Initiation and Duration
TABLE 1. Prevalence of Breastfeeding Initiation and Duration to 3, 6 and 12 Months Among Indiana WIC Infants by Selected Maternal Characteristics, FY22
| Maternal Age | Ever Breastfed | BF 3 Mo. | BF 6 Mo. | BF 12 Mo. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| <15 yrs | 62.8% | 8.1% | 4.8% | 2.3% |
| 15-19 yrs | 74.6% | 22.1% | 12.6% | 5.3% |
| 20-29 yrs | 72.4% | 33.7% | 22.3% | 11.1% |
| 30-39 yrs | 77.5% | 32.0% | 30.0% | 16.6% |
| 39+ yrs | 78.0% | 45.0% | 32.1% | 20.7% |
| Maternal Marital Status |
Ever Breastfed | BF 3 Mo. | BF 6 Mo. | BF 12 Mo. |
| Single | 74.2% | 30.5% | 19.1% | 9.1% |
| Married | 81.6% | 37.9% | 32.5% | 20.6% |
| Maternal Education |
Ever Breastfed | BF 3 Mo. | BF 6 Mo. | BF 12 Mo. |
| 8th grade and less | 76.6% | 30.3% | 28.1% | 16.4% |
| 9th to 11th grade | 69.1% | 25.1% | 15.5% | 6.7% |
| High school | 75.4% | 31.6% | 20.0% | 9.9% |
| Some college | 82.5% | 42.3% | 29.7% | 15.7% |
| College graduate | 83.0% | 43.2% | 36.3% | 26.2% |
| Smoking During Pregnancy |
Ever Breastfed | BF 3 Mo. | BF 6 Mo. | BF 12 Mo. |
| No | 78.4% | 36.0% | 22.6% | 12.2% |
| Yes | 65.3% | 22.2% | 10.0% | 4.0% |
| Household Smoking During Pregnancy |
Ever Breastfed | BF 3 Mo. | BF 6 Mo. | BF 12 Mo. |
| No | 75.4% | 36.1% | 20.9% | 12.1% |
| Yes | 68.2% | 18.0% | 9.9% | 4.3% |
| Anemia During Pregnancy |
Ever Breastfed | BF 3 Mo. | BF 6 Mo. | BF 12 Mo. |
| No | 76.5% | 32.2% | 24.2% | 11.4% |
| Yes | 82.0% | 27.5% | 12.1% | 2.5% |
| Trimester at Enrollment |
Ever Breastfed | BF 3 Mo. | BF 6 Mo. | BF 12 Mo. |
| 1st Trimester | 75.3% | 36.6% | 25.1% | 12.8% |
| 2nd Trimester | 76.8% | 32.5% | 24.1% | 11.4% |
| 3rd Trimester | 72.4% | 31.1% | 20.0% | 7.6% |
TABLE 2. Prevalence of Fully* Breastfeeding Rates at 3 and 6 Months Among Indiana WIC Fully Breastfed Infants by Selected Maternal Characteristics, FY22
| Maternal Age | Fully Breastfed 3 Mo. | Fully Breastfed 6 Mo. |
|---|---|---|
| <15 yrs | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| 15-19 yrs | 43.3% | 39.2% |
| 20-29 yrs | 54.3% | 54.3% |
| 30-39 yrs | 61.0% | 54.2% |
| 39+ yrs | 75.3% | 66.3% |
| Maternal Marital Status |
Fully Breastfed 3 Mo. | Fully Breastfed 6 Mo. |
| Single | 60.8% | 50.7% |
| Married | 73.3% | 57.8% |
| Maternal Education |
Fully Breastfed 3 Mo. | Fully Breastfed 6 Mo. |
| 8th grade and less | 52.0% | 49.0% |
| 9th to 11th grade | 55.3% | 43.4% |
| High school | 61.5% | 52.5% |
| Some college | 66.9% | 61.7% |
| College graduate | 77.7% | 72.2% |
| Smoking During Pregnancy |
Fully Breastfed 3 Mo. | Fully Breastfed 6 Mo. |
| No | 64.2% | 51.0% |
| Yes | 53.1% | 36.1% |
| Household Smoking During Pregnancy |
Fully Breastfed 3 Mo. | Fully Breastfed 6 Mo. |
| No | 64.1% | 50.4% |
| Yes | 50.1% | 36.0% |
| Anemia During Pregnancy |
Fully Breastfed 3 Mo. | Fully Breastfed 6 Mo. |
| No | 63.1% | 50.0% |
| Yes | 43.7% | 40.2% |
| Trimester at Enrollment |
Fully Breastfed 3 Mo. | Fully Breastfed 6 Mo. |
| 1st Trimester | 64.0% | 51.1% |
| 2nd Trimester | 63.1% | 49.7% |
| 3rd Trimester | 62.0% | 46.2% |