This biennial census provides detailed information on the demographic characteristics, economic circumstances and health conditions of WIC clients, along with information on the operational characteristics of State and local WIC agencies. The data are used for policy development, budget projections and regulatory impact analyses. Information about WIC participation characteristics has been prepared biennially since 1992 from administrative records provided by State agencies.
This report, the latest in a series of annual reports on WIC eligibility, presents 2014 national and State estimates of the number of people eligible for WIC benefits and the percent of the eligible population covered by the program, including estimates by participant category. The report also provides estimates by region, State, U.S. territory, and race and ethnicity, as well as updated estimates for years 2005–2013.
WIC-eligible women with unintended pregnancies and fewer social supports tend to participate in WIC, but those who experience more structural barriers are less likely to participate. Asian/Pacific Islander women may face specific challenges to WIC participation.
studies from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have demonstrated decreases in the prevalence of obesity among 3- to 23-month-old infants and toddlers and among 2- to 4-year-old children enrolled in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children
"Participation in WIC during pregnancy was significantly associated with being up-to-date at 2, 6, and 36 months. Participation in WIC was associated with an increased likelihood of up-to-date vaccination status, and engaging eligible foreign-born families in programs such as WIC might provide an opportunity to increase on-time vaccination "
Diet quality was assessed among participants in the WIC program across three time points following the WIC food package shift instituted nationally in 2009. Retention rates were 91% at 12 months and 89% at 18 months. For our WIC study, we augmented retention by developing a home data collection protocol and increased focus on staff diversity training.
The farmers market cost was greater. The farmers market users more often ate vegetables as snacks and > 1 vegetable per day.
Receipt of an unconditional prenatal income supplement was associated with positive outcomes. Placing conditions on income supplements may not be necessary to promote prenatal and perinatal health.
The results demonstrate that prenatal WIC participation is associated with reduced risk of RIWG between birth and age 1 year.
Many women exhibited postpartum risk factors for future adverse health events, including overweight or obesity (62.3%), depressive symptoms (27.5%), and no folic acid supplementation (65.5%). Most characteristics did not differ significantly between mothers of preterm infants and full-term infants or between mothers of low birth weight and normal birth weight infants.
