Maternal Characteristics of Prenatal WIC Receipt in the United States, 2016.

The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) seeks to improve fetal development and reduce the incidence of low birth weight, preterm birth, and maternal anemia through intervention during pregnancy (1). Prenatal WIC receipt is associated with lower infant mortality and stronger cognitive development among toddlers and children (2,3). All states and the District of Columbia reported information on maternal receipt of WIC food during pregnancy on the birth certificate for the first time in 2016 based on the question, “Did you receive WIC food for yourself because you were pregnant with this child?” This report describes prenatal WIC receipt in the United States in 2016 by state and by maternal age, race and Hispanic origin, and education.