ArticlePediatrics2022
Caregiver Perspectives on Underutilization of WIC: A Qualitative Study.
Article in Pediatrics, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 32 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
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Who cites it
32 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.
- Factors That Influence Children's Exits from the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children: A Systematic Review.Nutrients · 2023Pooled it
- Direct Digital Referrals From Prenatal Care and WIC Enrollment Among Pregnant Individuals: A Randomized Clinical Trial.JAMA network open · 2026Trial
- Trial
- An Electronic Health Record-Based Intervention to Facilitate Primary Care Referrals to the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children: Retrospective Cohort Study.JMIR pediatrics and parenting · 2026Article
- Remote Services, Benefits, and Program Retention Changes Among Young Children in WIC.JAMA network open · 2026Article
- Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Participation during Pregnancy: Racial/ethnic Inequities among Medicaid-Covered Asian, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, and Hispanic Women.Journal of racial and ethnic health disparities · 2026Article
- Barriers and Enablers to WIC Participation: Review of Evidence From Studies Published Between 2019 and 2024.AJPM focus · 2026Review
- Immigrant and refugee experiences in the Utah WIC program: a qualitative study.International journal for equity in health · 2026Article
- Multi-sector perspectives on opportunities to increase WIC enrollment through community healthcare partnerships.Frontiers in health services · 2026Article
- Redemption of Specific Categories of WIC Food Benefits and Risk of Program Discontinuation.JAMA network open · 2025Article
- Multilevel Factors Influencing Food Purchasing Decisions Among Families With Low Incomes During the COVID-19 Crisis: A Qualitative Study.Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics · 2025Article
- Factors that Influence Participants' Intention to Enroll and Retain in the Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children in New Jersey.Journal of community health · 2025Article
- "It makes you feel worthless." The lived experience of discrimination in the US food assistance system.Social science & medicine (1982) · 2025Article
- Breastfeeding Among First-Time Mothers Reporting Housing Insecurity and Food Insecurity.Journal of women's health (2002) · 2025Article
- Facilitators and barriers to reach and enrollment into a medically tailored meals program within a section 1115 Medicaid pilot: clinic staff perspectives.Frontiers in public health · 2025Article
- Initial Feeding Method, WIC-Provided Lactation Support, and Breastfeeding Duration at an Urban Pediatric Primary Care Practice.Journal of community health · 2024Article
- A Qualitative Exploration of Spanish-Speaking Latina Women's Experiences Participating in WIC Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic.Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics · 2024Article
- Moving Because of Unaffordable Housing and Disrupted Social Safety Net Access Among Children.Pediatrics · 2024Article
- Article
- WIC staff and healthcare professional perceptions of an EHR intervention to facilitate referrals to and improve communication and coordination with WIC: A qualitative study.Journal of clinical and translational science · 2024Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
15 authors.
Funding
Abstract
objectivesThe Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) is a federal program that improves the health of low-income women (pregnant and postpartum) and children up to 5 years of age in the United States. However, participation is suboptimal. We explored reasons for incomplete redemption of benefits and early dropout from WIC.
methodsIn 2020-2021, we conducted semistructured interviews to explore factors that influenced WIC program utilization among current WIC caregivers (n = 20) and caregivers choosing to leave while still eligible (n = 17) in Massachusetts. By using a deductive analytic approach, we developed a codebook grounded in the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research.
resultsThemes across both current and early-leaving participants included positive feelings about social support from the WIC clinic staff and savings offered through the food package. Participants described reduced satisfaction related to insufficient funds for fruits and vegetables, food benefits inflexibility, concerns about in-clinic health tests, and in-store item mislabeling. Participants described how electronic benefit transfer cards and smartphone apps eased the use of benefits and reduced stigma during shopping. Some participants attributed leaving early to a belief that they were taking benefits from others.
conclusionsCurrent and early-leaving participants shared positive WIC experiences, but barriers to full participation exist. Food package modification may lead to improved redemption and retention, including increasing the cash value benefit for fruits and vegetables and diversifying food options. Research is needed regarding the misperception that participation means "taking" benefits away from someone else in need.
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