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Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Utilization and
Matthew R Beymer1, Courtney P Paolicelli2, Joanna J Reagan3
1Mental Health Epidemiology Division, Defense Centers for Public Health-Aberdeen, Defense Health Agency, Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD, USA.
Background:
Service members in the United States military experience a higher prevalence of food insecurity (25%) when compared with civilians (10%). However, little is known about utilization of federally funded programs, including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC).
Objectives:
This study aimed to determine the association between demographics and nutrition assistance by examining food pantry utilization, SNAP participation, and WIC participation and discontinuation in a representative sample of US military service members.
Methods:
The 2020 Status of Forces-Active Duty (n = 14,466) was a cross-sectional, probability-based survey of all US military service members. The association between demographics and nutrition assistance was analyzed with 4 separate multivariable weighted logistic regression models.
Results:
Approximately 5.4% reported that they had accessed emergency food from a food pantry/food bank in the past 12 mo; 13.5% of service members reported that they had ever successfully applied for WIC benefits while serving on active-duty; and 2% of service members reported they had ever successfully applied for SNAP benefits while serving on active-duty. Lower rank and lower financial security demonstrated a consistent association with nutrition assistance utilization across all 4 models. Respondents living off the installation had lower odds of reporting current WIC participation compared with respondents living on the installation.
Conclusions:
Expanding educational resources into military support programs is needed for military and family members to understand the availability of nutrition assistance programs. Poor nutrition can lead to health problems that may impact a service member's well-being and ability to perform their duties effectively. Future qualitative research is needed to identify barriers to SNAP and WIC utilization, specifically to service members living off of the military installation, along with barriers for service members using WIC services in overseas locations.
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