ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To understand the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) counselor experiences discussing responsive bottle feeding during counseling and WIC participants' knowledge, understanding, and use of responsive bottle feeding. METHODS: Qualitative descriptive, semistructured interviews with 23 participants (8 WIC counselors and 15 WIC participants) were conducted online via Zoom. The WIC counselors and mothers of WIC-enrolled bottle-fed infants were recruited through a network of WIC clinics in North Carolina. Interviews were recorded, transcribed, and collaboratively analyzed using content analysis. RESULTS: The WIC participants received responsive infant feeding support from WIC counselors but often in the context of breastfeeding. WIC counselors provided valuable support for families but were challenged by limited training on responsive bottle feeding, balancing promoting breastfeeding with supporting mothers' feeding decisions, and time constraints. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: Findings provide preliminary support for the need to develop and pilot an intervention focused on promoting responsive feeding for parents of bottle-fed infants.
Subject(s)
Bottle Feeding , Food Assistance , Qualitative Research , Humans , Female , Infant , Adult , North Carolina , Counselors , Male , Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice , Caregivers/psychology , Infant, Newborn , Breast Feeding , Mothers/psychology , Counseling/methodsABSTRACT
Abstract: The use of tobacco and nicotine products during pregnancy is known to increase the risk of adverse effects on the fetus. Increased education and research have resulted in greater rates of smoking cessation during pregnancy, with a decline from 13.2% of pregnant individuals smoking in 2006 to 7.2% in 2016. However, smoking while pregnant still proves to be a prevalent issue that is associated with numerous adverse outcomes, including low birth weight, preterm birth, and developmental delays. Smoking cessation before or during pregnancy can help mitigate these effects, but the appropriate treatment can be challenging to ascertain. Accordingly, clinicians should look to provide individualized care composed of behavioral counseling in conjunction with pharmacotherapies when indicated, combined with ongoing support and education.
