738 - Comparing experiences of WIC participants and non-participants in navigating family food choices during the COVID-19 pandemic: A qualitative study

Publication Number: 738.4131

Maggie Beverly, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, United States; Taylor W. Young, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, United States; Tyler Munn, Temple University, philadelphia, PA, United States; Amy Carroll-Scott, Drexel University Dornsife School of Public Health, Dept of Community Health Sciences, Philadelphia, PA, United States; Eliza W.. Kinsey, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States; Matthew Jannetti, Drexel Univsity School of Public Health, Philadelphia, PA, United States; Kelly Courts, Drexel University College of Medicine, Collegeville, PA, United States; Félice Lê-Scherban, Drexel University Dornsife School of Public Health, Philadelphia, PA, United States

Background: The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) improves infant, child, and maternal health and reduces food insecurity. However, nearly half of those eligible for WIC do not participate. Additionally, the COVID-19 crisis caused widespread changes to the food landscape, which included accelerating efforts to modernize WIC that were already underway. Understanding the similarities and differences of experiences of WIC participants and non-participants in food decision-making as well as the impact of the pandemic is important to learning ways to improve WIC and increase enrollment.

Objective: To compare families’ food purchasing and feeding practices during the COVID-19 crisis and economic recovery between WIC participants and non-participants including the impacts of WIC, neighborhood characteristics, and other factors on their food choices and access.

Design/Methods: We conducted focus groups via videoconference with caregivers of young children with low incomes. Eligible participants were primary caregivers of a child under 5 years and used WIC at the time of recruitment or was WIC income eligible (child received Medicaid). Focus groups were stratified by WIC participation and language (English/Spanish). Eight focus groups were held (4 WIC, 4 Non-WIC; n=48) between April-July 2023. All transcripts were analyzed with the same coding scheme using a combination of a priori and emergent codes, guided by grounded theory. Codes were summarized overall and within each group to identify differences in narratives.

Results: WIC participants and non-participants reported similar experiences and considerations of factors that influence their food decision-making. However, WIC participants often had added challenges such as needing to travel to multiple stores and aligning child food preferences or specialized diets with WIC-approved items. During the pandemic, WIC participants benefitted from changes made to improve access but also had to manage shortages in WIC-approved food or formula. Non-participants who had previously participated in WIC discussed reasons for leaving the program including burdensome or time-consuming certification and shopping processes.

Conclusion(s): WIC participants benefitted from having continued support during the pandemic but were also burdened with additional decisions, considerations, and challenges in feeding their family while using the program. Improvements to reduce WIC’s administrative burden could improve participant experiences and increase enrollment.