WIC and the Nutrient Intake of Children

by Victor Oliveira and Craig Gundersen

After controlling for self-selection bias, participation in the WIC program (Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children) has a significant positive effect on children's intakes of iron, folate, and vitamin B-6. Iron is one of five nutrients targeted by the program, the others being protein, calcium, vitamin A, and vitamin C. Folate and vitamin B-6, along with zinc, were recommended by a 1991 USDA study as nutrients that the program should also target. The data set used, the 1994-96 Continuing Survey of Food Intake by Individuals, reflects the dramatic increase during the 1990's in the number of children in the program. ERS AutoFAX summary document # 01805. Contact: victoro@ers.usda.gov.

Keywords: WIC, nutrient intake, self-selection bias, food assistance, nutrition, children

In this publication...

• Entire Report
• Frontmatter (Title page, Contents, Summary)
• Introduction and Overview
• The Data Set
• Univariate Analysis
• Multivariate Regression Analysis
• Self-Selection and Rationing Issues
• Multiple Regression Analysis Controlling for Selection Bias
• Discussion
• References
• Appendix