Understanding the factors influencing low-income caregivers' perceived value of a federal nutrition programme, the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC).

OBJECTIVE: Retention of participants has been an issue in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). It has been suggested that the perceived value of WIC may affect whether participants remain in the programme. The present study aimed to explore this phenomenon. DESIGN: Using a constructivist approach, thirty-one individual in-depth interviews were conducted. Transcripts were analysed using constant comparative analysis. Social, cultural and environmental factors that contribute to the value of WIC were explored as the phenomenon of interest. SETTING: Eight WIC clinics across the State of Illinois, USA.ParticipantsThirty-one caregivers of children enrolled in WIC for at least 6 months. RESULTS: Several factors influenced perceived value of WIC at the interpersonal (level of social support), clinic (value of WIC services v. programme administration issues), vendor (shopping difficulties), community and systems levels (other programme use, stigma and restrictions on food choice). Other themes existed along continua, which overlapped several levels (continuum of perceived need and perceived value of infant formula). CONCLUSIONS: Many caregivers value WIC, especially before their child turns 1 year old. Improvements are needed at the clinic, during shopping and within the food packages themselves in order to increase perceived value of WIC.

Individual and Household-Level Factors Associated With Caregivers' Intention to Keep Their Child Enrolled in WIC.

OBJECTIVE: Identify factors associated with caregivers' intention to keep their child enrolled in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program until age 5 years. METHODS: Baseline data from a longitudinal questionnaire aiming to assess the impact of a statewide intervention to increase WIC retention in Illinois were analyzed in 2018. Data on sociodemographics and household characteristics were collected in 2015 from 174 caregiver/child dyads. Logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with caregivers' intention to keep their child enrolled in WIC until age 5 years (ie, intention). RESULTS: A total of 66% of caregivers stated they were very likely to keep their child enrolled in the WIC program. Breastfeeding and homeownership status were associated with 58% (P =.03) and 72% (P =.02) lower odds of intention among caregivers, respectively. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: Significant inverse associations among breastfeeding, homeownership, and intention support the need for tailoring state-level WIC retention efforts to specific population characteristics and health behaviors.

Substance use and women's health.

Scientific findings show that substance abuse in women yields a higher risk of a variety of health problems than substance abuse in men. Research suggests that women experience addiction telescoping when they abuse alcohol, tobacco, specific stimulants, and possibly opioids. Medical side effects also develop more rapidly in women than men when they abuse many substances. Cancer and cardiac complications, specifically, pose a significant threat for women who abuse almost all types of substances. However, the physical consequences are not the only ones women suffer when they engage in substance abuse. Research on substance abuse in women ties opioids to mood and anxiety disorders, heroin to neurological deficiencies, cocaine to immune system suppression, and alcohol to intimate partner abuse. Additionally, female substance abusers, on average, have a lower level of education and lower rates of employment. In light of these gender-specific concerns, physicians should give particular consideration to detecting substance abuse in women.