UAMS researchers recently found that improving the USDA’s SNAP program for Women, Infants, and Children could help boost maternal & infant health across Arkansas.
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — A new study by researchers at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) found that improving the USDA’s Special Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) could help boost maternal and infant health across the state.
The WIC program provides free benefits to expectant and new mothers, including healthy foods, breastfeeding support, nutrition education, and more.
In Arkansas, utilization of this program ranks second lowest in the nation at 35%, compared to the national average of 51%. Additionally, Arkansas was ranked among the worst in the nation for food insecurity and maternal mortality by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
After analyzing participation among multiple racial and ethnic groups and interviewing bilingual, Arkansas-based community health workers, UAMS researchers found that 40% of eligible participants in their nationwide study did not participate in the WIC program.
Eligible Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander women had the lowest rate of enrollment, while Black and Hispanic women had the highest enrollment rates.
“Our Marshallese communities are truly fortunate to have access to programs like WIC, but its utilization remains low — largely because many of the food options offered are unfamiliar to our people,” said Philmar Mendoza-Kabua, a Marshallese project manager and nurse educator at the UAMS Institute for Community Health Innovation. “In most cases, our mothers only use WIC for infant formula. By incorporating more culturally familiar foods — while still meeting healthy nutrition guidelines — we can dramatically improve WIC participation among Pacific Islanders. This simple yet impactful change would not only enhance program engagement but also help improve maternal and child health outcomes across our communities.”
Signing up for WIC is relatively easy and can be done online. Find out if you’re eligible here.
Researchers recommended the following improvements to the WIC program to help improve this issue:
- Focused outreach to specific underserved communities
- Improvements in culturally appropriate food options and flexibility for individual preferences of food
- Increased education about types of food covered by WIC and increased availability of those foods
- Support for overcoming logistical challenges, such as language and transportation barriers
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