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Breast-feeding is important in the health and nutrition of children, particularly those from lower socioeconomic groups. An objective of the Georgia Special Supplemental Food Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) is to encourage breast-feeding among women participants. The rates of breast-feeding were assessed for 404 among 2,010 women who attended the WIC prenatal clinic in 1986 and gave birth in February 1987. The women were interviewed six months after childbirth. The results showed that 24 percent of women started breast-feeding, but only 6 percent continued to breast-feed for six months or longer. Women who started breast-feeding tended to have more education and tended to be married. Women who were married or living as married were three times more likely to breast-feed than women who were single or not living as married. The likelihood of breast-feeding was 5.2 times greater among the women with more than 12 years of education; 2.7 times greater for women with 12 years; and 2.5 times greater for women with 10 to 11 years, compared with women with nine or fewer years of education. Ethnic background, number of prior pregnancies, age, and employment status did not influence the decision to breast-feed in this low-income population. These findings of low incidence and short duration of breast-feeding indicate a need for the promotion of breast-feeding among women in this population. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)