More than one in 10 households in the United States lacked access to adequate and nutritious food last year, according to U.S. government data. This food and nutrition insecurity significantly increases the risk of poor pregnancy outcomes.
The U.S. Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) is a key federal food assistance program designed to alleviate food insecurity for eligible pregnant, postpartum, and breastfeeding individuals, as well as their children. WIC aims to improve participants’ health by providing access to nutritious food, nutrition education, and referrals to healthcare and social services.
Recent research led by a team at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and College of Medicine has demonstrated that pregnant individuals enrolled in WIC are less likely to experience multiple adverse pregnancy outcomes, such as gestational diabetes, preterm birth, the need for blood transfusions, and intensive care unit (ICU) admissions for both the parent and the child.
Key Findings of the Study
The study, published in Obstetrics & Gynecology, was spearheaded by Dr. Kartik Venkatesh, a maternal-fetal medicine physician, epidemiologist, associate professor, and director of the Diabetes in Pregnancy Program at Ohio State Wexner Medical Center.
“Food insecurity is a major issue in the U.S., with rising food prices and concerns over congressional bills that could cut WIC funding for the first time,” Dr. Venkatesh stated. “In an era where WIC enrollment has declined, our study provides evidence of the positive relationship between WIC and improved pregnancy health.”
The Ohio State study analyzed WIC enrollment from 2016 to 2019, focusing on first-time pregnant individuals aged 18-44 and their babies. Those with previous births were excluded to avoid prior WIC enrollment confounding the results. The analysis included only U.S. residents with Medicaid insurance who were eligible for WIC.
Among the over 1.9 million pregnant individuals analyzed from 3,120 U.S. counties, WIC enrollment decreased from 73 per 100 live births in 2016 to 66 per 100 live births in 2019. However, counties where WIC enrollment increased saw significant health benefits compared to those where enrollment decreased or remained unchanged. These benefits included:
A 30% reduction in gestational diabetes
A 50% reduction in ICU admissions for the parent
A 30% reduction in blood transfusions at birth
For the child, the study found:
A nearly 30% lower preterm birth rate
A 20% reduction in ICU admissions
The Importance of WIC and Food Security
“This study shows that programs like WIC are effective,” said Dr. William Grobman, a maternal-fetal medicine physician and professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Ohio State, and co-author of the study. “Here in central Ohio, we are fortunate to have the Mid-Ohio Food Collective, one of the largest food banks in the country. Ohio State has increasingly partnered with them to address food and nutrition insecurity for all people.”
Dr. Venkatesh emphasized the need to connect individuals facing food insecurity with WIC and other services to address their social needs comprehensively. “We are now focusing on how to better integrate these social needs into pregnancy care to improve outcomes for families,” he said.
Methodology and Future Directions
The study’s data was sourced from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) National Center for Health Statistics Natality Files from 2016 to 2019. Data was organized at the county level, considering WIC is administered through 1,900 local agencies across the country.
Dr. Venkatesh and his team aim to develop interventions to further understand and address social needs as part of comprehensive pregnancy care, thereby enhancing health outcomes for both parents and their children.
For more information about WIC and its impact on pregnancy outcomes, or to learn how to access these resources, individuals are encouraged to visit local WIC agencies or consult with healthcare providers.
The findings of this study highlight the crucial role of federal assistance programs like WIC in improving maternal and child health, especially amid ongoing challenges related to food insecurity in the United States.
