Application Status Among Women Enrolled in a Healthy Start Program in Arkansas for the Special Nutrition Program for Women and Children

Abstract

suggest WIC participation is associated with improving infant health outcomes among racial and/or ethnic minorities [3,4]. Pregnant women were less likely to utilize WIC benefits (52%) compared to postpartum women and infants/ children (85%); postpartum women and infants have consistently higher rates of WIC participation over the past 10 years [22]. WIC participation varies by race and ethnicity [5, 6]. Rates of prenatal WIC receipt are lowest among non-Hispanic Asian (23.2%; 2016 data) and non-Hispanic White (26.2%) women. The highest rates of WIC receipt are among Hispanic (61.4%) and non-Hispanic Black mothers (59.6%), followed by non-Hispanic American Indian or Alaska Native (58.3%) and non-Hispanic Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander (NHPI) (48.2%) mothers [5].Many factors contribute to low participation in WIC, including barriers to applying, lack of knowledge on how to apply, and/or a lack of perceived need for the program.