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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Shonté Richardson, MPH and Sophia Autrey, MPH. 2 Peachtree Street NW, Georgia Department of Human Resources, Division of Public Health, WIC Branch, Suite 10-476, Atlanta, GA 30303, 404-656-9882, hrichardson@dhr.state.ga.us

The Women, Infants and Children (WIC) Program is a supplemental nutrition program for low income infants, pregnant women, postpartum women and children under the age of 5 years. Within the WIC Program, women are categorized as either prenatal, non-breastfeeding postpartum or breastfeeding postpartum. To become eligible for WIC a participant must be a resident of Georgia, have an income level at or below 185% of poverty and have at least one nutrition related condition as determined by a certified professional or nutritionist. Each condition has an associated risk code based on priority according to WIC protocol. A participant in the Georgia WIC Program can be assessed to have up to five (5) nutrition-related risks. Using FFY 2005 data, an analysis was conducted to identify the top ten nutrition risks assigned for women enrolled in the WIC program. Further analysis was conducted to determine the proportion of high-priority risk factors identified. Geographical stratification of the data was performed to determine the burden of high priority risks in specific regions. The data showed that the highest identified risk, Inadequate Dietary Pattern, was consistent for each district regardless of location. The analysis also revealed that a large proportion of women enrolled in WIC suffered from medical conditions that are detrimental to the survival and health of most infants. Early identification of these risks is imperative. By assessing the nutrition risks early, appropriate interventions can be applied during critical periods of pregnancy and early postpartum to offset their causal effects.

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

• Identify the 10 leading nutritional risks of women enrolled in the Georgia WIC Program.
• Clearly articulate the prevalence proportion of the top 10 nutritional risks.
• Reference the methodology used by the Georgia WIC Program to assess the nutritional risks of clients.
• Identify the high-risk indicators and attributable disease burdens in relation to geographical regions.

Keywords: Maternal Health, Nutrition

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Not Answered