Easing Cash Assistance Rules and Breastfeeding

Did changes to the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program during the COVID-19 pandemic affect breastfeeding initiation rates and breastfeeding duration?In this quasi-experimental study of 138 700 individuals, TANF policy changes that expanded eligibility, increased cash payments, and decreased administrative burdens were associated with increased breastfeeding initiation and duration.Increasing TANF access may facilitate breastfeeding and improve maternal and child health; these findings inform active policymaking on antipoverty policies.

Corresponding Author: Emily C. Dore, PhD, MSW, MPH, Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, 401 Park Dr, Boston, MA 02215 (edore@hsph.harvard.edu).

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