WIC Participants

The Impact of Prenatal WIC Participation on Infant Mortality and Racial Disparities

This study assessed the impact of WIC services on improving birth outcomes and reducing racial disparities. Results showed that the infant mortality rate (IMR) was lower for WIC participants than for non-WIC participants. For African Americans, the IMR of WIC participants was much lower than that of non-WIC participants. For whites, IMR and preterm birth rates were not improved by WIC participation.

The WIC Program: Background, Trends, and Economic Issues, 2009 Edition

The authors described the WIC Program: how it works, its history, program trends, and the characteristics of the population it serves. It also examines then-current issues facing WIC, focusing mainly on those with important economic implications.

The Use of Multiple Logistic Regression to Identify Risk Factors Associated with Anemia and Iron Deficiency in a Convenience Sample of 12- to 36-Month-Old Children from Low-Income Families

This study evaluated risk factors associated with anemia and iron deficiency in a sample of children participating in or applying for WIC. The results revealed that current child WIC participation and maternal WIC participation during pregnancy were negatively associated with anemia and iron deficiency.

A Comparison Between Improvers and Non-Improvers Among Children with Anemia Enrolled in the WIC Program

This study investigated the differences between children ages 1 to 5 in the Texas WIC Program who had improved anemia statuses and those who did not. Non-improvers were more likely to be those children who were younger, who lived in families with four or more children, who ate fewer snacks, and who never ate dried fruits. More parents of non-improvers incorrectly believed that their child had improved.

WIC Program Coverage: How Many Eligible Individuals Participated in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC): 1994 to 2003?

This report provided information on the new methodology developed by the National Research Council to estimate rates of eligibility and participation in the WIC Program. The new methodology provided more accurate estimates of the number of people eligible for WIC. The report estimated that 13.5 million individuals were eligible for WIC and that 7.7 million participated in WIC in 2003.

Why Do WIC Participants Fail to Pick Up Their Checks? An Urban Study in the Wake of Welfare Reform

These authors explored whether work or immigration concerns affected women's participation in the WIC Program. Results showed that non-collection of checks was associated with job conflicts, transportation or illness problems, and check distribution policies.

Racial Differences in Birth Outcomes and Costs in Relation to Prenatal WIC Participation

This study analyzed birth outcomes and the cost of infant hospitalization at delivery for black and non-black Medicaid clients, in relation to their level of prenatal participation in the WIC Program. Based on the results, prenatal WIC participation was associated with lower Medicaid costs and better birth outcomes, particularly for blacks.

The WIC Program: Background, Trends, and Issues

This report described the WIC Program: how it works, its history, program trends, and the characteristics of the population it serves. It also examines issues related to program outcomes and administration. How the WIC community responded to these issues might have a large impact on future program operations.

Limited Supermarket Availability Is Not Associated With Obesity Risk Among Participants in the Kansas WIC Program

The researchers examines the availability of food stores for low-income women in Kansas and investigated whether food store availability was associated with obesity, using data from women participating in the WIC Program in Kansas. Most WIC recipients lived within 1 mile of a small grocery store, and there was an association of density of any type of food store with obesity in micropolitan areas.

Choices Made by Low-Income Women Provided with an Economic Supplement for Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Purchase

This study investigated whether women who received supplemental financial support specifically for the purchase of fresh fruits and vegetables would exhibit high uptake of the supplement. The researchers also recorded what those individuals would choose to purchase. The authors concluded that women used the supplement provided almost fully and that they purchased a wide variety of fresh fruits and vegetables for their families. No particular barriers arose to redemption of the vouchers by either the participants or retail vendors.