The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

Abstract #48691

Jay D Hirschman, MPH, CNS¹, Nancy Cole, PhD², David Hoaglin, PhD², and John Kirlin, PhD². (1) Office of Analysis, Nutrition and Evaluation, USDA Food and Nutrition Service, 3101 Park Center Drive, Alexandria, VA 22302, 703-305-2117, Jay.Hirschman@fns.usda.gov, (2) Abt Associates, Inc., 55 Wheeler Street, Cambridge, MA 02138

National Survey of WIC Participants

In Spring 1998, the National Survey of WIC Participants (NSWP) interviewed a nationally representative sample of about 3,000 WIC participants at 178 WIC service sites in the contiguous United States. These interviews collected information about household composition, family income, nutrition and health risks, participation in other food assistance programs, food security, health insurance coverage and the family’s history of WIC enrollment. This was the first opportunity in ten years to gather details about WIC’s caseload which had more than doubled in that time period.

NSWP gives WIC an outstanding report card on: · Expanded yet targeted participation; · Limited certification error which is unchanged from 1988; · High customer satisfaction; · Few barriers to access; and · Ease of use.

It also illustrates challenges remaining for WIC: · Food security for WIC families is 76% compared to 88% for the overall U.S. population. About 9% of WIC participants indicate hunger at WIC certification. · Although their poverty distribution is relatively unchanged, WIC participants report lower percentages participating in other federal food programs than in 1988. · Financial support through government programs, unemployment insurance, and child support is rare among WIC families. · Almost one-fifth of WIC participants lack health insurance at current WIC certification. · Anemia and obesity are prevalent in WIC women and WIC children. · Breastfeeding is a complex decision, but when chosen, carries across multiple children in the family. Considerable change is needed to meet Healthy People 2010 goals for the WIC population. · The most prevalent nutrition risk among all WIC enrollees is the failure to meet dietary guidelines.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of this session, the learner in this session will be able to

• Describe key characteristics of mothers, infants and children served by the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC).
• Recognize the accomplishments made in major expansion of the WIC Program.
• Articulate the challenges remaining for WIC as an adjunct to maternal child health infrastructures.

Keywords: Food and Nutrition, WIC

Related Web page: www.fns.usda.gov/oane

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.