“I Think That’s the Most Beneficial Change That WIC Has Made in a Really Long Time”: Perceptions and Awareness of an Increase in the WIC Cash Value Benefit

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Citation

Duffy, Emily W.; Vest, Daniele A.; Davis, Cassandra R.; Hall, Marissa G.; De Marco, Molly; Ng, Shu Wen; & Taillie, Lindsey Smith (2022). "I Think That's the Most Beneficial Change That WIC Has Made in a Really Long Time": Perceptions and Awareness of an Increase in the WIC Cash Value Benefit. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(14), 8671. PMCID: PMC9324401

Abstract

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Cash Value Benefit (CVB) for fruits and vegetables increased by roughly USD 25/month/person. We sought to understand WIC participant perceptions of this change and barriers and facilitators to using the CVB. We conducted 10 virtual focus groups (5 rural, 5 urban/suburban) with WIC participants (n = 55) in North Carolina in March 2022. Focus groups were recorded and transcribed. We open-coded the content and used thematic analysis to uncover consistencies within and between sampled groups. Participants expressed favorable perceptions of the CVB increase and stated the pre-pandemic CVB amount was insufficient. Barriers to using the increased CVB were identifying WIC-approved fruits and vegetables in stores and insufficient supply of fruits and vegetables. Barriers were more pronounced in rural groups. Facilitators of CVB use were existing household preferences for fruits and vegetables and the variety of products that can be purchased with CVB relative to other components of the WIC food package. Participants felt the CVB increase allowed their families to eat a wider variety of fruits and vegetables. The CVB increase may improve fruit and vegetable intake, particularly if made permanent, but barriers to CVB and WIC benefit use may limit the potential impact.

URL

http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19148671

Reference Type

Journal Article

Year Published

2022

Journal Title

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health

Author(s)

Duffy, Emily W.
Vest, Daniele A.
Davis, Cassandra R.
Hall, Marissa G.
De Marco, Molly
Ng, Shu Wen
Taillie, Lindsey Smith

Article Type

Regular

PMCID

PMC9324401

Continent/Country

United States of America

State

North Carolina

Sex/Gender

Women

ORCiD

Duffy - 0000-0003-0981-1291
Taillie - 0000-0002-4555-2525
Davis, C - 0000-0003-4444-3113
Hall - 0000-0002-8690-9498