The researchers examines associations between WIC participation and indicators of underweight, overweight, length, caregiver-perceived health, and household food security among infants ages 12 months or younger, at six urban hospitals and clinics. Results showed that of the eligible families not receiving WIC assistance, 64% reported access problems, and 36% denied a need for WIC. Families who were not receiving WIC because of access problems were more likely to have underweight infants and experience food insecurity.
The purpose of this study was to determine whether household food insecurity was associated with adverse health outcomes in a sentinel population ages 36 months or younger. The study showed that compared with food-secure children, food-insecure children's odds of fair or poor; health were nearly twice as high, and their odds of being hospitalized since birth were almost a third higher. Effect modification occurred between Food Stamps and food insecurity; Food Stamps attenuated, but did not eliminate, associations between food insecurity and fair/poor health.
To assess the food safety knowledge and food handling behaviors of low-income high-risk populations, the researchers conducted a study, based on participants of the WIC Program. The results suggested that low-income consumers needed food safety education and that different messages should be delivered to specific demographic groups.
The purposes of this study were (1) to determine the relationship between stage of change and decisional balance, processes of change, and self-efficacy variables of the Transtheoretical Model to increase fruit and vegetable consumption by low-income African-American mothers and (2) to assess the usefulness of the model for intervention efforts. Results showed that perceptions of benefits for health and planning meals were stronger for women in later stages, compared with earlier stages.
The authors researched the development and randomized evaluation of a tailored nutrition education CD-ROM program for WIC Program participants in North Carolina. Their findings suggested that one session of an interactive CD-ROM program could impact mediators of dietary change, but it was insufficient to change behavior.
This study evaluated the effectiveness of a single brief interactive experience of the Little by Little CD-ROM in increasing fruit and vegetable intake in low-income women. Two months after the intervention, participants who were in the intervention groups reported significantly higher fruit and vegetable intake than those in the control group.
This study looked at the relationship between maternal health and infant dietary patterns in WIC participants in Maryland. Data from 689 mother-infant pairs revealed the following: A total of 36.5% of mothers reported introducing solids to their infants early (<4 months of age), and 40% reported adding cereal to their infant's bottle. Overall, results demonstrated that maternal mental health symptoms were associated with poorer infant-feeding practices and higher infant dietary intake during the first 6 months.
The authors examines dietary intake of pregnant women using the Diet Quality Index for Pregnancy (DQI-P), a new index developed to reflect current nutritional recommendations for pregnancy and national dietary guidelines. The highest overall DQI-P scores were identified in women who were older than 30, above 350% of the poverty level, nulliparous, and high school graduates. Additionally, higher-income, older, and better-educated women consumed higher amounts of vegetables. But, black, low-income, and nulliparous women consumed greater intakes of folate and iron.
This study assessed maternal mental health and feeding styles by a telephone survey. Parenting, including non responsive feeding styles, has been related to young children being either under- or overweight. Mothers who reported stress, depression, or anxiety symptoms were at risk of non responsive feeding styles. These findings provided support for broadening the focus of existing child nutrition programs to include strategies that recognize how issues of maternal mental health could affect feeding styles.
The aim of this study was to determine the relationships between maternal depressive symptoms and the use of infant health services, parenting practices, and injury-prevention measures. A total of 48% of women had depressive symptoms at one or two time points (ever symptoms), and 12% had depressive symptoms at all points (persistent symptoms). There was no association between maternal depressive symptoms and infant receipt of well-child care or the likelihood of breastfeeding for 1 month or longer.
