A recent study from Ohio State University indicates that pregnant women enrolled in the U.S. Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) experience better pregnancy outcomes compared to those who struggle with food insecurity.
WIC provides essential food aid, healthcare referrals, and social services to low-income women who are pregnant, postpartum, or breastfeeding, as well as their children. The study highlights the significance of WIC in reducing adverse pregnancy outcomes, including gestational diabetes, preterm birth, and ICU admissions for both mothers and babies.
The research comes amid rising concerns about potential reductions in WIC funding by Congress, which could exacerbate food insecurity issues in the U.S.
Dr. Kartik Venkatesh, the lead researcher and director of the Diabetes in Pregnancy Program at Ohio State’s Wexner Medical Center, emphasized the importance of WIC, especially as food prices increase and WIC enrollment decreases.
The study’s findings underscore the critical role WIC plays in supporting pregnancy health and mitigating the effects of food insecurity.
The study analyzed data from 1.9 million first-time pregnant women, aged 18 to 44, who were enrolled in WIC between 2016 and 2019 and covered by Medicaid. The research spanned across 3,120 U.S. counties, revealing that WIC enrollment dropped from 73 per 100 live births in 2016 to 66 per 100 in 2019.
Despite this decline, counties with increased WIC enrollment saw significant improvements in pregnancy outcomes, including a 50% reduction in ICU admissions for mothers, a 30% decrease in gestational diabetes, and fewer blood transfusions at birth.
The positive impact extended to infants as well, with counties experiencing higher WIC enrollment showing nearly 30% fewer preterm births and a 20% reduction in ICU admissions for babies.
These findings affirm the efficacy of WIC in promoting healthier pregnancies and better outcomes for both mothers and their infants. Dr. William Grobman, a maternal-fetal medicine specialist and co-author of the study, reiterated the success of WIC programs in improving maternal and child health.
Moving forward, Dr. Venkatesh and his team aim to develop interventions that connect individuals facing food insecurity to WIC and other social services, thereby enhancing pregnancy care and outcomes.
Published in the journal Obstetrics & Gynecology on June 27, the study’s results highlight the need for continued support and expansion of WIC to address social needs effectively and improve the well-being of families.
