Less Engagement With the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) in Early...

Examine how engagement with the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) during the first few months after birth influences continued participation.

Secondary analysis of longitudinal data from the WIC Infant Toddler Feeding Practices Study-2.

Eighty WIC sites.

A total of 1,851 study participants completed each postnatal interview through 13 months.

Early exit from WIC (not receiving WIC benefits 6-13 months after birth).

We predicted early exits as a function of engagement with WIC from enrollment to 5 months after birth using multivariable probit regression models.

Study participants were more likely to leave WIC early if they enrolled later in pregnancy (P < 0.05), did not use all WIC food benefits (P < 0.001), did not receive information from WIC on breastfeeding (P < 0.01), did not turn to WIC for information about infant feeding (P < 0.05), or did not use other public assistance programs (P < 0.05).

For participants who initially enroll in WIC, our findings suggest that practices that promote the use of food benefits, reach WIC participants with breastfeeding information, and lead them to look at WIC as a valued source of infant feeding information may promote retention.