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.
These authors studied the effect of WIC on birth outcomes. Based on their findings, WIC showed no statistically significant effects for any of the following six outcomes: birth weight, prematurity, maternal report of the infant's health, small for gestational age, and placement in the neonatal intensive care unit.
This study examines the existence and possible explanations for racial/ethnic disparities in preterm births, using a nationally representative sample of births. Race-stratified models indicated that maternal health complications and prenatal care adequacy offered the most potential to explain the remaining racial/ethnic disparities in preterm births.
This study utilized a large population-based birth registry to estimate the independent effect of county-level poverty on preterm birth risk. The researchers found that high county-level poverty was significantly associated with preterm birth risk.
This study tested a model describing the relationships between various biopsychosocial, behavioral, and cognitive factors on nutritional adequacy and infant birth weight in low-income pregnant women. The findings showed that maternal age, body mass index prior to pregnancy, nutritional knowledge, and infant gestation at birth explained 52% of the variance in infant birth weight. Providing nutritional education throughout pregnancy might lead to improved dietary patterns, which, in turn, might reduce the incidence of low birth weight.
Early childhood caries (ECC) is a challenging public health problem, both in the US and elsewhere. Unfortunately, data relating to very young children's risk factors are scarce. This study assessed baseline risk factors for 18-month caries prevalence, in conjunction with a longitudinal study of high-risk children. Results suggested that early colonization by mutans streptocci (MS) and consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages are significant predictors of ECC in high-risk populations.
The authors assessed selected predictors for the inclusion of oral health counseling by Illinois WIC providers. The results suggested that when WIC providers had some oral health training, they were more likely to provide counseling about dental disease and its prevention.
This study used a social ecological model to examine the influences of sociodemographic factors, mothers; attitudes, financial barriers, and the healthcare delivery system on the use of dental services for 4- to 8-year-old Hispanic children. The results showed that initiating dental care during the preschool years was significantly related to the mothers; beliefs and their social networks ; beliefs in the value of preventive dental care. In addition, extended clinic hours increased the likelihood of returning to the dentist. Provider availability, dental insurance, and family income were related to frequency of planned visits.
The purpose of the study was to examine the effects of knowledge and confidence on dental referral practices among WIC nutritionists in North Carolina. The study showed that the more confident WIC nutritionists felt about their ability to assess oral health risk, the more likely they were to make dental referrals. Because a child's first point of contact with a health professional is frequently at a WIC clinic, WIC workers might improve children's access to dental care, by providing screenings and referrals.
This study estimated the effects of the WIC Program on dental-related Medicaid expenditures for young children. The researchers concluded that the WIC Program had the potential to decrease dental-related costs to the Medicaid program, while increasing use of dental services.
