Abstract
These are first results from the Congressionally mandated national evaluation of the Special Supplemental Food Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC). Records of individual participation in the program were unavailable. However, for 888 counties in 8 states, between 1972 and 1980, we could relate the penetration of WIC (# of women served/estimated # eligible) to 12,000,000 linked county birth and death records.
Counties which received WIC programs had, consistent with program goals, much worse perinatal outcome. After controlling for between county differences and for year of observation, we found a positive relationship between WIC and all outcomes. Estimated differences with full penetration were increases of 7.0 g in birthweight (p=0.03) and 0.37 d in gestation (0.05< p < 0.10) and decreases of 0.60/1000 in deaths from 0-6 d, 0.73/1000 in deaths from 0-27 d, and 0.13/1000 in deaths from 28-364 d (all n.s.).
These estimated changes are of small magnitude, but would arise from benefits to only one third of births, those in families with incomes < 195% of the federally defined poverty level. Changes in that population would thus be of impressive magnitude (21 g birthweight, 1.1 d gestation, and -2.2/1000 neonatal mortality).
We will present outcome for subgroups stratified by race, education and marital status and thus at differing likelihood for having received WIC benefits.
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Rush, D., Alvir, J. THE NATIONAL WIC EVALUATION: WIC AND PERINATAL OUTCOME IN 12,000,000 LINKED BIRTH AND DEATH CERTIFICATES. Pediatr Res 18 (Suppl 4), 187 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198404001-00562
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198404001-00562