Why is African American breastfeeding promotion a DSHS priority?
Pilot Program
Promotion Materials
Other African American Breastfeeding Promotion Resources
Why is African American breastfeeding promotion a DSHS priority?
Increasing the rates of breastfeeding could narrow many of the health disparities that are prevalent among African Americans, such as SIDS, diabetes, overweight and obesity, and asthma.
- Breastfeeding rates among African American women lag behind all other ethnic groups.
- Breastfeeding is a natural extension of pregnancy and human milk is normal infant nutrition. Therefore, when breastfeeding is not practiced, it has detrimental health effects for both the baby and the mother.
- Not breastfeeding increases an infant’s risk of urinary tract, respiratory, gastrointestinal, and ear infections as well as diarrhea and constipation.
- Not breastfeeding increases an infant’s risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).
- Not breastfeeding increases an infant’s risk of asthma and other allergies.
- Not breastfeeding increases an infant’s risk of less than optimal immune system and oral-facial development.
- Not breastfeeding increases an infant’s risk of diabetes, Crohn’s disease, inflammatory bowel disease, and lymphoma.
- Not breastfeeding results in less than optimal cognitive development for the child and an increased risk of overweight and obesity later in life.
- For the mother, not breastfeeding increases her risk of developing breast and ovarian cancer.
- Not breastfeeding increases a woman’s risk for postpartum obesity and osteoporosis.
Return to Top
Pilot Program
The Campaign Pilot Program
The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) piloted the breastfeeding campaign targeted to African American women in Beaumont, Port Arthur, and Orange and Hardin counties in 2004.
Promotion Materials
Brochures
Posters
Community Outreach
If you are in the State of Texas and would like to order these materials, visit the WIC Catalog to place an order.
If you reside outside of Texas and would like to reprint these materials, browse the WIC Catalog to download the PDFs of each piece you’d like to duplicate, then take it to a printer in your community.
Media
Contact us