Abstract Objective: To test how prenatal participation in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) impacts health care utilization and immunizations within the first year of […]
This study described the proportion of low-birth weight births that might be prevented by programs targeting maternal body mass index (BMI) before pregnancy and/or weight gain during pregnancy. The researchers found that 19% of the very low-birth weight births in South Carolina related to either underweight or overweight BMI at conception. In addition, 8% of the very low-birth weight births were attributed to inadequate weight gain during pregnancy. The authors concluded that appropriate maternal BMI at conception, in conjunction with adequate weight gain during pregnancy, might substantially reduce the number of low-birth weight deliveries.
A South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control Division of WIC publication that outlines policies and procedures for selling WIC approved foods to participants in South Carolina.
WIC participation is associated with an increase in breastfeeding initiation among black mothers by nearly 7%, with no statistically significant effect among white mothers.
