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Special Supplemental Nutrition Program (special + supplemental_nutrition_program)
Selected AbstractsWHY WAIT?: EXAMINING DELAYED WIC PARTICIPATION AMONG PREGNANT WOMENCONTEMPORARY ECONOMIC POLICY, Issue 4 2008LAURA TIEHEN Despite the benefits of prenatal participation in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), many eligible women either do not participate or begin participation late in their pregnancies. Using recent nationally representative data, we find that more disadvantaged women are more likely to access WIC and, with some notable exceptions, to participate earlier in their pregnancies. Hispanic women, especially those with language difficulties, enroll in WIC later in their pregnancies. Early WIC participation, particularly among teenagers, is less likely among women experiencing a first birth and depends on the mother's early recognition of her pregnancy. (JEL I18, I30) [source] Factors Related to Frequency of Fruits and Vegetables Served to Children and Consumed by Mothers in Low-Income HouseholdsFAMILY & CONSUMER SCIENCES RESEARCH JOURNAL, Issue 1 2004Brenda Jean Birmingham A survey of low-income mothers of children enrolled in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) was conducted to identify barriers and other factors influencing the frequency of fruits and vegetables served to children and consumed by the mother. Barriers related to adults not liking a wide variety of fruits or vegetables and adults' lack of interest in trying new fruits or vegetables significantly related to mothers serving and consuming fruits and vegetables less frequently. Cost and convenience barriers related more negatively to mothers' own intakes than to what they served to children. Fruit and vegetable intakes were lower among mothers reporting indicators of household food insecurity. Recommendations for WIC nutrition education are discussed. [source] Effect of Professional Postpartum Support on Infant Feeding Patterns Among Breastfeeding Participants in the WIC ProgramFAMILY & CONSUMER SCIENCES RESEARCH JOURNAL, Issue 4 2004Jo Carol Chezem The purpose of this study was to determine if professional breastfeeding support could postpone formula introduction and prolong breastfeeding among participants in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC). Fifty women in the experimental group received home visits and phone calls from a lactation educator following hospital discharge; 50 control group women were encouraged to contact a lactation educator as needed. Infants' ages at formula introduction and breastfeeding continuation rates were not significantly different between the groups. Common reasons for breastfeeding cessation included returning to work/school, inadequate milk supply, and latch-on/suckling problems. Use of telephone contacts, delay of breastfeeding support until after hospital discharge, and early formula supplementation may have contributed to the ineffectiveness of the intervention. [source] Relationships Between Caregivers' Responses to Oral Health Screening Questions and Early Childhood CariesJOURNAL OF PUBLIC HEALTH DENTISTRY, Issue 4 2009Christopher R. Roberts DDS Abstract Objective: This study evaluated relationships between caregiver responses to oral health screening questions and caries in young children. Methods: Two samples of caregivers answered identical eight-item screening questionnaires about their oral health. One sample included children enrolled in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) who were 24 to 42 months of age; the other sample included 3- to 5-year-old children attending a pediatric dental clinic. Using chi-square and relative risk, questionnaire findings were related to children's caries history based on clinical caries exams. Results: Questions significantly (P < 0.05) related to children's caries in the older sample included caregivers' poorer rating of their oral health, less frequent dental visits, current or recent caries, and history of tooth loss due to caries. However, only questions pertaining to tooth loss were related to caries in the younger sample. Conclusion: Caregivers' reported loss of teeth due to caries was significantly associated with caries development in their children in both samples, and may be a useful means for early identification of children at high risk. [source] Factors Associated with Dental Caries Experience in 1-Year-Old ChildrenJOURNAL OF PUBLIC HEALTH DENTISTRY, Issue 2 2008John J. Warren DDS Abstract Objectives: Dental caries in early childhood is an important public health problem. Previous studies have examined risk factors, but they have focused on children during the later stages of the disease process. The purpose of this study was to assess the factors associated with caries in children aged 6 to 24 months as part of a cross-sectional analysis. Methods: Two hundred twelve mothers with children 6 to 24 months of age were recruited from Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children clinic sites in southeastern Iowa for participation in a longitudinal study of dental caries. Baseline assessments included detailed questions regarding the children's beverage consumption, oral hygiene, and family socioeconomic status. Dental caries examinations using the d1d2-3f criteria and semiquantitative assessments of salivary mutans streptococci (MS) levels of mother and child were also conducted. Counts of the number of teeth with visible plaque were recorded for maxillary and mandibular molars and incisors. Results: Of the 212 child/mother pairs, 187 children had teeth. Among these children, the mean age was 14 months, and 23 of the children exhibited either d1, d2-3, or filled lesions. Presence of caries was significantly associated with older age, presence of MS in children, family income <$25,000 per year, and proportion of teeth with visible plaque. Conclusions: Results suggest that not only microbial measures, including MS and plaque levels, are closely associated with caries in very young children, but that other age-related factors may also be associated with caries. Continued study is necessary to more fully assess the risk factors for caries prevalence and incidence in preschool children. [source] The Effects of the Women, Infants, and Children's Supplemental Food Program on Dentally Related Medicaid ExpendituresJOURNAL OF PUBLIC HEALTH DENTISTRY, Issue 2 2004Jessica Y. Lee DDS Abstract Objective: This study estimates the effects of the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) on dentally related Medicaid expenditures for young children. Methods: We used a five-year cohort study design to compare dentally related Medicaid expenditures for children enrolled in WIC versus those not enrolled for each year of life up to age 5 years. There were 49,795 children born in North Carolina in 1992 who met the inclusion criteria for the study. Their birth records were linked to Medicaid enrollment and claims files, WIC master files, and the Area Resource File. Our analysis strategy included a logit and OLS two-part model with CPI dollar adjustments. Results: Children who participated in WIC at ages 1 and 2 years had significantly less dentally related expenditures than those who did not participate. WIC participation at age 3 years did not have a significant effect. Fewer WIC children received dental care under general anesthesia than non-WIC children. Conclusions: The WIC program has the potential for decreasing dentally related costs to the Medicaid program, while increasing use of dental services. [source] Alcohol Consumption among Low-Income Pregnant LatinasALCOHOLISM, Issue 11 2005Christina D. Chambers Abstract: Background: Due to changing cultural norms, Latinas of childbearing age residing in the U.S. may be at increasing risk of drinking harmful levels of alcohol during pregnancy, and may also be unaware of the risks for Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders associated with this behavior. We assessed the prevalence of alcohol consumption in a sample of low-income pregnant Latinas and examined risk factors for alcohol use in the periconceptional period. Methods: As part of a larger intervention trial, a cross-sectional in-home interview study was conducted among a sample of 100 pregnant low-income Latinas receiving services from the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) in San Diego County, California. Results: Fifty-seven percent of respondents indicated they were either life-time abstainers or had not consumed any alcohol in the periconceptional period. Forty-three percent reported some alcohol use in the three months prior to recognition of the current pregnancy, and 20% reported at least one binge episode of four or more standard drinks during that time frame. Five percent reported drinking seven or more drinks per week, and 8% continued drinking alcohol after recognition of pregnancy. Significant predictors of any alcohol use in the periconceptional period included English language/higher level of acculturation, younger maternal age, lower parity, higher level of education, younger age at first drink, and having ever smoked. Women who were aware of alcohol warning messages and /or had more knowledge of the Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) were significantly more likely to have consumed alcohol in the periconceptional period. Frequency of periconceptional use of alcohol did not differ between women who planned or did not plan the pregnancy. Conclusion: The prevalence and pattern of early pregnancy alcohol consumption in this sample of Latinas is similar to patterns noted in other race/ethnic groups in the U.S. Level of knowledge about FAS and awareness of warning messages was not protective for early pregnancy alcohol consumption, suggesting that specific knowledge was insufficient to prevent exposure or that other factors reinforce maintenance of alcohol consumption in early pregnancy. Selective interventions in low-income Latinas are warranted, and should be focused on women of reproductive age who are binge or frequent drinkers and who are at risk of becoming pregnant. [source] |