Current enrollment in WIC averages 69% of the eligible population, but ranges from 40-91% by state. The purpose of this study was to identify policy recommendations that could reduce the state variation in WIC enrollment. Specifically, policies explaining the state enrollment variation in WIC were identified. Using Aday and Anderson's Framework for the Study of Access, the following independent variables were studied: federal health policy, state supplementation of the WIC budget, administrative dollars spent per person, food dollars spent per person, WIC population per clinic and WIC priority categories served by the state. Contextual variables accounting for population differences of the states were included. The dependent variable was the percent of the eligible WIC population enrolled by state. Data (1994) were collected from public documents and analyzed using backward stepwise multiple regression. State supplementation of the WIC budget, administrative dollars spent per person, food dollars spent per person, cost of living, population density, population distribution and federal health policy account for 85% of the variance in enrollment by state (p=0.0001). Contextual variables accounted for a large portion of the enrollment variance (39%), suggesting the importance of such variables in research models and policy making. The most critical policy recommendations to increase WIC enrollments were (a) reorienting the federal funding formula toward incentives for enrollment, (b) greater consideration for cost of living impact, (c) state supplementation of WIC and (d) consideration of efficient reductions in administrative and food costs per person.
Learning Objectives: 1. The learner will examine health policy as a factor in WIC enrollment. 2. The learner will describe factors contributing to state WIC enrollment variation as identified in this study. 3. The learner will describe policy recommendations to reduce state WIC enrollment variation
Keywords: Policy/Policy Development, WIC
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.