I am quite fascinated by this discussion about WIC and whether
breastfeeding rates would improve if they stopped giving out formula,
etc. Unfortunately I don't think the whole situation is quite this
simple! The whole mainstream cultural thinking about how babies are
fed, and even nurtured in general, would have to change as well. This
is where BFHI is a start towards this.

I am curious about the system in the US - eg what proportion of the
population qualify for WIC assistance? I get the impression that it
must be quite high as there are many references to well-educated
Lactnetters having qualified.

I'm just trying to figure out how our Australian population compares.
I guess we may have a higher general initiation rate of
breastfeeding, although amongst the lowest socioeconomic groups, I
think it is quite low. Also, there may be a more cultural acceptance
of breastfeeding and it is certainly encouraged and *expected* in the
hospitals (even if they still put up the classic 'barriers' in most).
And we don't have the marketing by formula companies in hospitals
that you are all fighting against.

These poorest people are likely to be on welfare (ie money hand-outs,
rather than food, etc) and I think it is left up to them what they
spend their money on. I suspect there are also some who do as Wendey
in Canada mentions, that of switching babies to regular milk quite
early (although not the Karo syrup - it's too expensive in
Australia!). However, I think this would be quite a small proportion
of the population. Most parents would probably earn enough to get by
including purchasing formula along with their cigarettes, food,
clothing, etc. Perhaps I'm a bit naive here. What do other Aussies
think about this? Would we be better or worse off in Australia with a
system like WIC?
******************************************************************
Joy Anderson B.Sc. Dip.Ed. Grad.Dip.Med.Tech. IBCLC
Nursing Mothers' Association of Australia Breastfeeding Counsellor
Perth, Western Australia.   mailto:[log in to unmask]
******************************************************************

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