The objective of this study was to examine whether socioeconomic status (SES) gradients emerged in health outcomes as early as birth. Results showed that participation in WIC substantially flattened income gradients for short-term participants and virtually eliminated an income gradient among long-term participants. The researcher concluded that WIC’s effects on income gradients warrant additional study, to explore further whether interventions or participants; characteristics could resolve socioeconomic disparities in such early-life health;outcomes as low birth weight.
The goal of this study was to determine whether perceived levels of social support affected birth weight. Data suggested that infants born to African-American mothers were, on average, 297 grams lighter than those born to white mothers. For African-American mothers only, the mean birth weight decreased significantly as the neighborhood level of economic disadvantage increased. A positive association between perceived levels of social support and birth weight was found for white mothers only.
The researchers; goal was to determine whether the availability of community health and social services was associated with the risk of poor fetal growth for infants born small for gestational age (SGA). There was no association between SGA births and the accessibility of community services for either high- or low-risk women.
This study examines the impact of maternal participation in WIC on birth weight. The authors concluded that after controlling for potential biases, a significant positive association between WIC participation and birth weight was observed.
The author tested predictors of infant birth weight, including prepregnancy body mass index, gestational weight gain, and smoking. Results showed that higher birth weight was predicted by prepregnancy obesity. Lower infant birth weight was predicted by both lower and higher-than-recommended weight gain and by lower and higher levels of smoking.
This study investigated the effect of breastfeeding on long-term postpartum weight retention of participants in the North Carolina WIC Program. The research revealed less long-term weight retention among mothers who had breastfed for at least 20 weeks.
The authors examines infant-feeding practices and maternal diet in Mexican immigrant families in California. researchers found that mothers living in the US for fewer than 6 years breastfed their infants exclusively for at least 16 weeks. In addition, 20% of mothers living in the US from 6 years to 15 years and 17% of mothers living in the US for more than 15 years exclusively breastfed. Longer duration of residence in the US was associated with significantly higher intakes of vegetables, low-fat milk, salty snacks, animal protein, and cereals.
This study described the factors associated with the smoking status of low-income women during pregnancy and postpartum. Results showed that lower relapse rates among spontaneous quitters indicated a need to foster an environment that encourages quitting at pregnancy.
The authors explored the relationship between the timing of entry into the WIC Program among pregnant women in Rhode Island and changes in maternal cigarette smoking (MCS) during pregnancy. Self-reports from smokers indicated that 9.5% quit smoking; 24.6% decreased MCS; 26.8% experienced no change; 33.5% increased MCS; and 5.6% attempted to quit MCS, but failed during pregnancy.
The researchers examines the association between childhood obesity and preschool enrollment and number of hours in child care among low-income preschool-aged children participating in the WIC Program. Children enrolled in preschool for more than 4 days per week were less likely to be obese. Meanwhile, children who watched at least an hour or more per day of TV and videos or who had mothers with higher body mass indices were more likely to be obese.
