Abstract Background: The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program is an important intervention for prevention and treatment of obesity and food insecurity, but participation has […]
Abstract The present study planned and implemented a new farmers’ market (FM) at a WIC (Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children) clinic in North Carolina, of which […]
Abstract Background: USDA’s Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) provides expert-chosen supplemental foods to improve the diets and health of low-income infants and children <5 y […]
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.
This research explored the associations between childhood morbidities among income-eligible and categorically eligible WIC participant and non-WIC participant groups in a diverse, nationally representative sample of children. According to the results, no significant differences were noted between child WIC participants and non-WIC participants in the following areas: asthma, respiratory illness, severe gastrointestinal illness, or ear infection diagnosis.
The objective of this study was to assess the association between length of prenatal participation in the WIC Program and a marker of infant morbidity. The researchers found that the risks of delivering a small for gestational age, very preterm, or late preterm infant significantly decreased with WIC participation for a small dose response relationship.
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.
This study used data from nine states that participate in the Pregnancy Nutrition Surveillance System to address limitations in previous work. Studying the effects of the WIC Program, results suggested that the WIC effect in improving infant health exists, but on fewer margins and with less impact than has been claimed by policy analysts and advocates.
The researchers examines the relationship between WIC and Food Stamp Program participation on young children's health and mistreatment outcomes. Their analysis used a unique individual-level longitudinal database that linked administrative datasets on WIC and Food Stamp Program participation, Medicaid enrollment and claims, and child abuse and neglect reports in Illinois. Based on the findings, receiving WIC benefits and Food Stamps, jointly or alone, was associated with less child abuse and neglect; was inversely related to the incidence of health problems among low-income children; and was associated with lower risk of being diagnosed with anemia, failure to thrive, and other nutritional deficiencies. For several outcome measures, stronger associations were found among study participants enrolled in WIC.
This paper evaluated the skepticism that WIC research failed to properly control for selection into the WIC Program, using rich data from the national Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System. The authors showed that relative to Medicaid mothers, all of whom were eligible for WIC, WIC participants were negatively selected on a wide array of observable dimensions, yet WIC participation was associated with improved birth outcomes.
