About 74 % of all WIC mothers initiated breastfeeding. Urban women who were Hispanic, aged 18-19, high school graduates, household income >$10,000/year, and started early prenatal care were more likely to breastfeed. Urban and rural women who were non-Hispanic black with some high school education were less likely to breastfeed.
Gaps in hospital and community breastfeeding support were observed in the emerging themes: lack of realistic information about the breastfeeding experience, breastfeeding time constraint, and lack of continued support.
The following characteristics were associated with reduced odds of smoking 3 months prior to pregnancy: being 17 years old or younger, Hispanic, a high school graduate, urban location, normal body mass index, no live births prior to current pregnancy, and using multi-vitamins. Results from this study indicate that the WIC population in rural areas may have different needs regarding smoking cessation programming than the urban WIC population
WIC clients were made to participate in a whooping cough education model, learning was evaluted using a pre and post test, clients indicated that they were more likely to vaccinate themselves and the child after the model
No statistically significant differences in outcomes were found between babies who were WIC participants and those who were not.
Neighborhood social cohesion is associated with child neglect, but not abuse. In examining the relationship with specific types of abuse and neglect, it was found that neighborhood social cohesion may have a protective role in some acts of neglect, such as meeting a child's basic needs, but not potentially more complex needs like parental substance abuse.
WIC is cost effective in safeguarding the health status of the target population, with recent studies showing $4.21 in Medicaid savings for every dollar spent on a WIC pregnant woman. Interdepartmental and interagency cooperation help alleviate childhood hunger and food insecurity.
During 2000-2004 prevalence of severe obesity increased overall. During 2004-2010 prevalence decreased signficiantly overal - the largest annual decreases occured in Asians, Pacific Islanders and American Indian/Alaska Native populations
In an evaluation of the Arizona Empower Program, participating facilities, majority completed partial implementation with most sites conducting staff training and only 44% reporting full implementation of a breastfeeding friendly environment.
Among children enrolled in WIC, the intervention was associated with reduced prevalence of obesity risk factors in both intervention communities and a small improvement in BMI z scores in one of two intervention communities in non-Asian children.
