WIC Research, Policy and Practice Hub WIC Research, Policy and Practice Hub

Geography: New York


Feasibility of Increasing Childhood Outdoor Play and Decreasing Television Viewing Through a Family-Based Intervention in WIC, New York State, 2007-2008

This study assessed the feasibility and efficacy of the Active Families Program, developed to increase outdoor play and decrease television viewing among preschool-aged children enrolled in the WIC Program. Compared with the children at baseline, the children at follow-up were more likely to watch television less than 2 hours per day and play outdoors for at least 60 minutes per day.


Barriers to the Use of WIC Services

This study identified barriers that deterred parents/caretakers of infants and children enrolled in the WIC Program from taking full advantage of the services provided by the program. Waiting too long was the most frequently cited barrier (48%). Difficulties in bringing the infant/child to recertify and rescheduling appointments were key variables associated with failure to use (i.e., pick up or cash) WIC checks.


Reducing Low Birth Weight Through Home Visitation: A Randomized Controlled Trial

This study assessed the effectiveness of a prenatal home visitation program in reducing adverse birth outcomes among socially disadvantaged pregnant women and adolescents. The risk of delivering a  low-birth weight baby was significantly lower for the intervention group. The risk was further reduced for mothers who were exposed to the intervention at a gestational age of 24 weeks or fewer.


Maternal Perceptions of Infant Hunger, Satiety, and Pressuring Feeding Styles in an Urban Latina WIC Population

This study aimed to assess maternal perception of infant-feeding cues and pressuring feeding styles in an urban Latina WIC population. The results suggested that most mothers perceived that babies sensed their own satiety. Two perceptions of feeding cues were related to pressuring feeding style: the beliefs that (1) infant crying must indicate hunger and that (2) infant hand sucking implies hunger. Improving responsiveness to infant cues should be a component of early childhood obesity prevention.


Infant-Feeding Beliefs and Experiences of Black Women Enrolled in WIC in the New York Metropolitan Area

The author explored infant-feeding beliefs and experiences of black women enrolled in WIC (BWEW) in a New York metropolitan inner city. The following were among the major themes that emerged from this analysis: (1) formula-feeding experiences were the norm for most BWEW; (2) life experiences of BWEW included a preponderance of loss and stress; and (3) infant-feeding beliefs of BWEW reflected responses to life experiences.