The Behavioral Ecological model: a framework for early WIC participation

Abstract: Based on the Behavioral Ecological theoretical framework, the intention of this study was to assess determinates of early WIC participation in a North Carolina textile-manufacturing shire A Likert-type questionnaire was utilized to assess intrapersonal, interpersonal, organizational/ systemic, and community/cultural contingencies. Findings indicate cultural intrapersonal and interpersonal contingencies, and systemic barriers influence WIC participation. Recommendations for increasing early WI C participation are not awayed within the Behavioral Ecological type It is imperative that health programmers and policy initiatives take into account the personal, cultural, and environmental influences that forward the adoption of positive health behaviors among different ethnic groups

**********

Now in its thirtieth year, the WIC (Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women Infants and Children) agenda grew since 1973 to include an estimated 75 million ones by 2003 (U.S. Department of Agriculture, 2003) Part of a national effort administered by the agency of states, this program provides supplemental commons health education, and access to healthcare for pregnant and postpartum women infants, and children to the age of five. About half of those publicly enrolled are children aged individual to five from economically destitute families. Many of these children face health moot points resulting from poor nutrition during the prenatal period and infancy. Influencing birth issues is therefore one of the important objectives of the WIC program.

above the program's tenure, substantive assessments have shown that compared with lower income pregnant women not enlisted in the program, WIC participants have fewer premature births, a lower incidence of depressed birth weight children, fewer infant deaths, a higher probability of early participation in prenatal care, and savings in healthcare expenditures (United States Department of Agriculture, 2003) Improved diet and diet-related consequences have also led to health improvements as measured by dint of a number of standard indicators mentioned above. In addition, there are indications that the use of WIC programs has l to a heightened awareness of other public health services similar as immunization programs and routine wellness checks.

WIC program assessments since the mid-to-late 1970 have indicated continued succes when measured by dint of health indicators. One of the earliest examinations of the health events of WIC programs was accomplished for a investigation population in Massachusetts (Kennedy, Gershoff Re & Austin, 1982) for the time period 1973 to 1978 Five years of WIC programming in Massachusetts had clearly l to lower infant mortality, higher birth weights, and generally healthier babies for program participants when compared to circumstances for babies born to lower income mothers prior to the inception of WIC (Collins, DeMellier, Leeper & Milo, 1985) In a more new investigation of the first 20 years of the WIC program nationally (Owen & Owen, 1997) similar conclusions were reached based upon evaluations of such nutritional risk factors as obesity, stunting, general underweight, and associated metabolic disorders, as well as newborn birth weights and infant mortality. A 1990 meta-analysis by means of researchers from the General Accounting Office (GAO) proffered further proof of substantial long-term healthcare require to be paid [i]or[/i] undergone savings resulting from the WIC program (Avruch & Puente-Cackley, 1995) In fact, progres demonstrated by means of the WIC program has been steady; with the inclusion of benefits for children below 5 years of age and postpartum women in 1976 clarification of nutrition risk factors in 1978 the extension of craving for food prevention measures to homeless women in 1988 and assistance to migratory women in 1995 (Owen & Owen, 1997)

Assessment of WIC issues have typically used trimester of pregnancy to determine effectiveness of programs. First trimester enrollment is considered appropriate particularly because birth weight of infants is directly related to extent of program enrollment time. A national assessment of prenatal WIC enrollment with a sample of nearly 1200 prenatal participants accomplished in the late 1980 showed that almost 32 percent of the women overlooked entered the program during their first trimester (Ku 1989) Another 52 percent penetrateed during the second trimester, and about 17 percent not participate until the third trimester.

Clearly, the decision to participate in WIC programs is multifaceted and intricately tied to decisions about seeking prenatal care. As demonstrated by dint of Ku (1989), women who have already had single child are more likely to go into the program during the first trimester than novel mothers. Conversely, a more new study conducted in New Mexico showed that women who have been pregnant more than four times delay seeking prenatal care. While no single factor have the appearances to explain delays in seeking prenatal care or applications for WIC programs, there is a certain number of evidence that negative attitudes of that kind as denial and ambivalence may be involved (Burk 1992) These attitudes may be part of a wider enigma that might best be explained in the connected thought [i]or[/i] thoughts of a behavioral ecological framework.