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Maternal characteristics of prenatal WIC receipt in the United States, 2016
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January 2018
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Description:The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) seeks to improve fetal development and reduce the incidence of low birth weight, preterm birth, and maternal anemia through intervention during pregnancy (1). Prenatal WIC receipt is associated with lower infant mortality and stronger cognitive development among toddlers and children (2,3). All states and the District of Columbia reported information on maternal receipt of WIC food during pregnancy on the birth certificate for the first time in 2016 based on the question, “Did you receive WIC food for yourself because you were pregnant with this child?” This report describes prenatal WIC receipt in the United States in 2016 by state and by maternal age, race and Hispanic origin, and education.
Key findings
Data from the National Vital Statistics System
• Four in 10 women (39.6%) who gave birth in the United States in 2016 received prenatal benefits from the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC).
• Rates of prenatal WIC receipt declined with increasing maternal age for women
• under 40.
• Among the six race and Hispanic-origin groups, receipt of prenatal WIC was highest for Hispanic mothers (61.4%) and lowest for non-Hispanic Asian mothers (23.2%).
• Receipt of prenatal WIC decreased as maternal education level increased.
Suggested citation: Driscoll AK, Osterman MJK. Maternal characteristics of prenatal WIC participation in the United States, 2016. NCHS Data Brief, no 298. Hyattsville, MD: National Center for Health Statistics. 2018.
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