Racial and Ethnic Comparisons in Satisfaction with Services Provided by the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children in California

Abstract

Understanding satisfaction of nutrition education and other services provided in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) is needed to ensure the program is responsive to the needs of diverse populations. This study examined the variation of WIC participants’ perceptions and satisfaction with WIC nutrition education and services by race, ethnicity, and language preference. Phone surveys were conducted in 2019 with California WIC families with children aged 1–4 years. While most participants (86%) preferred one-on-one nutrition education, online/mobile apps were also favored (69%). The majority (89%) found nutrition education equally important to receiving the WIC food package. Racial/ethnic groups differed in which WIC service they primarily valued as 20% of non-Hispanic White people rated the food package as more important than nutrition education compared to 5% of Spanish- and 6% of English-speaking Hispanic people, respectively. More Spanish (91%) and English-speaking Hispanic people (87%) than non-Hispanic white (79%) or Black people (74%) changed a behavior because of something they learned at WIC (p < 0.001). Spanish-speaking Hispanic people (90%) had the highest satisfaction with WIC nutrition education. Preferential differences among participants suggest that providing flexible options may improve program satisfaction and emphasizes the need for future studies to examine WIC services by race and ethnicity.

Associations of Increased WIC Benefits for Fruits and Vegetables With Food Security and Satisfaction by Race and Ethnicity

“…Nationally, these groups generally have lower WIC participation rates (33). Their lower participation rates may be due to perceived inadequacy of culturally appropriate foods in the WIC food package (16). Our results highlight the importance of examining the influence of the CVB on WIC participation among racial and ethnic groups and on reducing health disparities (33).…”

“…Studies reported increases in fruit and vegetable intake, household food security, and satisfaction with the CVB amount after the CVB augmentation (10)(11)(12)(13)(14); however, no studies have assessed trends by race and ethnicity. Given the diverse racial and ethnic make-up of WIC participants and previously reported differences in the association between WIC program elements and outcomes among racial and ethnic groups, examining potential differences in outcomes across groups is an important consideration for program effectiveness (15)(16)(17)(18).…”

“…An augmented CVB can reduce racial and ethnic disparities in health by increasing access to fruits and vegetables and program participation, through increased program appeal and cultural accessibility (19). Furthermore, differences in intake of fruits and vegetables, preferences for components of the WIC food package, and satisfaction with WIC services among racial and ethnic groups receiving WIC (15)(16)(17)(18) support the need for evaluating the CVB augmentation by group. For example, a 2019 survey in California found that while the most common motivation across racial and ethnic groups for WIC participation was the fruit and vegetable component, Hispanic Spanish-speakers were more likely than other racial and ethnic groups to be satisfied with the CVB amount (16,17).…”

“…Furthermore, differences in intake of fruits and vegetables, preferences for components of the WIC food package, and satisfaction with WIC services among racial and ethnic groups receiving WIC (15)(16)(17)(18) support the need for evaluating the CVB augmentation by group. For example, a 2019 survey in California found that while the most common motivation across racial and ethnic groups for WIC participation was the fruit and vegetable component, Hispanic Spanish-speakers were more likely than other racial and ethnic groups to be satisfied with the CVB amount (16,17). The objective of this study was to investigate, by racial and ethnic group, whether the CVB augmentation was associated with increases in CVB redemption, household food security, fruit and vegetable intake, and satisfaction in CVB amounts in a racially and ethnically diverse sample of children in California receiving WIC.…”