“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

Emily W. Duffy, Daniele A. Vest, Cassandra R. Davis, Marissa G. Hall, Molly De Marco, Shu Wen Ng and Lindsey Smith Taillie
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Emily W. Duffy: Carolina Population Center, Department of Nutrition, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
Daniele A. Vest: Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
Cassandra R. Davis: Carolina Population Center, Department of Public Policy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
Marissa G. Hall: Carolina Population Center, Department of Health Behavior, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
Molly De Marco: Department of Nutrition, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
Shu Wen Ng: Carolina Population Center, Department of Nutrition, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
Lindsey Smith Taillie: Carolina Population Center, Department of Nutrition, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 14, 1-14

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.

Keywords: fruit; vegetable; childhood; COVID-19; cash value benefit (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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