The Special Supplemental Food Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) is a public health intervention targeted to reach a high risk pregnant population in order to promote beneficial effects on pregnancy outcome. The ultimate goal of this research was to examine the pregnancy outcomes, relative to selected biological, socio-demographic and nutritional risk variables, of pregnant women enrolled in the Virginia WIC Program. The study proposed that duration of WIC participation is associated with improved pregnancy outcomes, including higher infant birth weight, a decrease in low birth weight (LBW) and decreased incidences of prematurity, neonatal mortality and abnormal births. Nutritional and non-nutritional risk variables and birth outcomes were examined in 2,133 pregnant women enrolled in the Virginia WIC Program from December 1, 1984 to September 30, 1985. A WIC Pregnant Women Tracking Form was the designed instrument utilized by staff at health department clinic sites to record the data at time of program entry.

Duration of participation in WIC was calculated by weeks and stratified into three groups by months (or trimesters) of participation. Results indicated that this subject population was demographically and nutritionally at higher risk for poor pregnancy outcomes. Stratification by demographic subpopulations showed the most vulnerable may be those prenatal subjects less than 18 years of age, and of black racial/ethnic status.

Statistical analyses between the duration of indicated a positive correlation participation, especially when in the WIC Program and pregnancy birth weight, LBW, and birth stratified by trimester, outcome described by complications.

It was concluded that for this high risk group of prenatal subjects, increased participation in the WIC Program is associated with enhanced pregnancy outcomes. While these findings suggest that birth weight and birth outcome differences are a function of WIC participation, other related factors may be basis for this causal effect.