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Objectives. To examine associations of workplace leave length with breastfeeding initiation and continuation at 1, 2, and 3 months. Methods. We analyzed 2016 to 2018 data for 10 sites in the United States from the Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System, a site-specific, population-based surveillance system that samples women with a recent live birth 2 to 6 months after birth. Using multivariable logistic regression, we examined associations of leave length (< 3 vs ≥ 3 months) with breastfeeding outcomes. Results. Among 12 301 postpartum women who planned to or had returned to the job they had during pregnancy, 42.1% reported taking unpaid leave, 37.5% reported paid leave, 18.2% reported both unpaid and paid leave, and 2.2% reported no leave. Approximately two thirds (66.2%) of women reported taking less than 3 months of leave. Although 91.2% of women initiated breastfeeding, 81.2%, 72.1%, and 65.3% of women continued breastfeeding at 1, 2, and 3 months, respectively. Shorter leave length (< 3 months), whether paid or unpaid, was associated with lower prevalence of breastfeeding at 2 and 3 months compared with 3 or more months of leave. Conclusions. Women with less than 3 months of leave reported shorter breastfeeding duration than did women with 3 or more months of leave. (Am J Public Health. 2021;111(11):2036–2045. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2021.306484) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives. The Balanced Budget Act of 1997 authorized Medicare to expand the coverage of glucose monitors and strips to non-insulin users with diabetes and self-management training to non-hospital-based programs. We examined the impact of this expansion on self-monitoring of blood glucose among Medicare beneficiaries who were not using insulin to treat their diabetes. Methods. With data from the 1996-2000 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System and a logistic regression model using a complex survey design, we compared the probability of self-monitoring of blood glucose among Medicare beneficiaries at the frequency recommended by the American Academy of Family Physicians' clinical guidelines before and after the Medicare expansion. We also compared the change in the frequency of self-monitoring of blood glucose during these periods between Medicare beneficiaries and persons with private insurance by using a difference-in-difference model. Results. Medicare expansion was positively associated with the probability of self-monitoring of blood glucose for both Medicare beneficiaries and persons with private insurance; the magnitude was between 7.1 and 16.6 percentage points. Conclusions. The Medicare expansion effectively increased the frequency of the recommended self-monitoring of blood glucose in the Medicare population. (Am J Public Health. 2008;98:358-364. doi:10.2105/AJPH.2007.112185) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]