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Introduction: Exclusive breastfeeding is recognized as the optimal source of nutrition for infants. Although exclusive breastfeeding rates have increased overall in the United States, substantial inequities exist in breastfeeding among individuals of different socioeconomic statuses, races, and ethnicities. The purpose of this study was to examine characteristics associated with exclusive breastfeeding intentions among pregnant women in Arkansas enrolled in a Healthy Start program. Methods: The current study included a cross-sectional design, with a sample of 242 pregnant women in Arkansas enrolled in a Healthy Start program. Results: The majority of the participants (56.6%) indicated their infant feeding intentions included a combination of breastfeeding and formula feeding. There were substantial differences in breastfeeding intentions among women of different races/ethnicities, with 18.5% of Marshallese women indicating they planned to exclusively breastfeed, compared to 42.1% of White women, 47.6% of Black women, and 31.8% of Hispanic women (p < 0.001). Women over the age of 18 and with higher educational attainment were more likely to intend on exclusively breastfeeding. Discussion: This is the first study to examine characteristics associated with exclusive breastfeeding intentions among pregnant women in Arkansas enrolled in a Healthy Start program. The study found that race/ethnicity and age were most strongly associated with breastfeeding intentions. These findings are critical to identifying populations for resource allocation and to developing culturally-tailored interventions to help women in Arkansas achieve their desired infant feeding methods. Significance: What is already known on this subject?: Exclusive breastfeeding is recognized as the optimal source of nutrition for infants, and it has been associated with decreased risk of obesity and cardiometabolic disease for both mother and infant. Although exclusive breastfeeding rates have increased overall in the United States, substantial inequities exist in breastfeeding among individuals of different socioeconomic statuses, races, and ethnicities. What this study adds?: This is the first study to examine characteristics associated with exclusive breastfeeding intentions among pregnant women in Arkansas enrolled in a Healthy Start program. The study found that race/ethnicity and age were most strongly associated with breastfeeding intentions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction/Purpose: Poverty-reduction efforts that seek to support households with children and enable healthy family functioning are vital to produce positive economic, health, developmental, and upward mobility outcomes. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is an effective poverty-reduction policy for individuals and families. This study investigated the non-nutritional effects that families experience when receiving SNAP benefits. Methods: We conducted a scoping review using the PRISMA Guidelines and strategic search terms across seven databases from 01 January 2008 to 01 February 2023 (n=2456). Data extraction involved two researchers performing title-abstract reviews. Full-text articles were assessed for eligibility (n=103). Forty articles were included for data retrieval. Results: SNAP positively impacts family health across the five categories of the Family Stress Model (Healthcare utilization for children and parents, Familial allocation of resources, Impact on child development and behavior, Mental health, and Abuse or neglect). Discussion/Conclusion: SNAP is a highly effective program with growing evidence that it positively impacts family health and alleviates poverty. Four priority policy actions are discussed to overcome the unintentional barriers for SNAP: distributing benefits more than once a month; increasing SNAP benefits for recipients; softening the abrupt end of benefits when wages increase; and coordinating SNAP eligibility and enrollment with other programs. Significance: What is already known on this subject?: Poverty-reduction efforts that invest in children have especially significant positive benefits by producing positive economic, health, developmental, and upward mobility outcomes. SNAP is among the leading poverty-reducing policies and enrolls the largest number of participants for both nutritional and non-nutritional benefits. What this study adds?: To our knowledge, no study has synthesized the non-nutritional impact of SNAP on family health. We found that SNAP positively impacts family health across five categories of the Family Stress Model (Healthcare utilization for children and parents, Familial allocation of resources, Impact on child development and behavior, Mental health, and Abuse or neglect). Further, we present four policy actions resulting from this scoping review that deserve attention from policymakers, program administrators, and retailer establishments: distribute benefits more than once a month; increase SNAP benefits for recipients; soften the abrupt end of benefits when wages increase; and coordinate SNAP eligibility and enrollment with other programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]