NCHS Data Brief ■ No. 298 ■ January 2018

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

National Center for Health Statistics

Maternal Characteristics of Prenatal WIC Receipt in the 

United States, 2016

Anne K. Driscoll, Ph.D., and Michelle J.K. Osterman, M.H.S.

Key findings 

Data from the National 

Vital Statistics System

● Four in 10 women (39.6%)

who gave birth in the United

States in 2016 received

prenatal benefits from the

Special Supplemental Nutrition

Program for Women, Infants,

and Children (WIC).

● Rates of prenatal WIC

receipt declined with increasing

maternal age for women

under 40.

● Among the six race and

Hispanic-origin groups, receipt

of prenatal WIC was highest

for Hispanic mothers (61.4%)

and lowest for non-Hispanic

Asian mothers (23.2%).

● Receipt of prenatal WIC

decreased as maternal 

education level increased.

The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and 

Children (WIC) seeks to improve fetal development and reduce the incidence 

of low birth weight, preterm birth, and maternal anemia through intervention 

during pregnancy (1). Prenatal WIC receipt is associated with lower infant 

mortality and stronger cognitive development among toddlers and children 

(2,3). All states and the District of Columbia reported information on maternal 

receipt of WIC food during pregnancy on the birth certificate for the first 

time in 2016 based on the question, “Did you receive WIC food for yourself 

because you were pregnant with this child?” This report describes prenatal 

WIC receipt in the United States in 2016 by state and by maternal age, race 

and Hispanic origin, and education.

Keywords: maternal education • maternal age • National Vital Statistics 

System

Prenatal WIC receipt rates varied by state in 2016.

Figure 1. Prenatal WIC receipt, by state: United States, 2016 

NOTES: WIC is the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children. Access data table for Figure 1 at: 

https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/databriefs/db298_table.pdf#1.

SOURCE: NCHS National Vital Statistics System, Natality.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
NCHS Data Brief ■ No. 298 ■ January 2018

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● Four in 10 women who gave birth in 2016 received prenatal WIC benefits (39.6%) 

(Figure 1).

● At least one in five mothers received prenatal WIC benefits in every state and the District of 

Columbia, ranging from 21.2% in Utah to 52.2% in Alabama.

● In four states, less than one-quarter of women received prenatal WIC benefits: Utah 

(21.2%), New Hampshire (22.2%), North Dakota (22.7%), and New Jersey (23.8%). 

In three states, more than one-half of women received prenatal WIC benefits: Alabama 

(52.2%), Arkansas (51.0%), and Mississippi (50.1%).

In 2016, prenatal WIC receipt rates declined as maternal age increased for 

women under age 40.

● Prenatal WIC receipt rates declined with increasing age for mothers under age 40, from 

74.4% of mothers under age 20 to 25.9% of mothers aged 35–39 (Figure 2).

● Prenatal WIC receipt rates were higher among women aged 40 and over (28.3%) than 

among women in their 30s (26.5% of women aged 30–34 and 25.9% of women aged 

35–39), but they were lower than for women under age 30.

Figure 2. Prenatal WIC receipt, by maternal age group: United States, 2016

1

Significant differences in rates for all age groups (p < 0.05). 2

Significant decreasing linear trend from age groups under 20 to 35–39 (p < 0.05). 

NOTES: WIC is the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children. Access data table for Figure 2 at: 

https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/databriefs/db298_table.pdf#2.

SOURCE: NCHS, National Vital Statistics System, Natality.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
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Prenatal WIC receipt rates varied by race and Hispanic origin in 2016.

● Rates of prenatal WIC receipt were highest among Hispanic (61.4%), non-Hispanic black 

(59.6%), and non-Hispanic American Indian or Alaska Native (AIAN) (58.3%) mothers 

(Figure 3).

● The prenatal WIC receipt rate was next highest among non-Hispanic Native Hawaiian or 

Other Pacific Islander mothers (48.2%).

● Non-Hispanic Asian women had the lowest rate of prenatal WIC receipt (23.2%), followed 

by non-Hispanic white women (26.2%).

Figure 3. Prenatal WIC receipt, by maternal race and Hispanic origin: United States, 2016

1

Significant differences in rates for all race and Hispanic-origin groups (p < 0.05). 

NOTES: WIC is the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children. Access data table for Figure 3 at: 

https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/databriefs/db298_table.pdf#3. 

SOURCE: NCHS, National Vital Statistics System, Natality.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
NCHS Data Brief ■ No. 298 ■ January 2018

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In 2016, prenatal WIC receipt rates were lower for mothers with higher 

educational attainment.

● Prenatal WIC receipt rates declined with increasing education.

● Prenatal WIC receipt rates declined from 69.9% among women with no high school diploma 

to 4.9% among those who had a master’s degree or higher (Figure 4).

Figure 4. Prenatal WIC receipt, by maternal education: United States, 2016

1

Significant decreasing linear trend from least educated to most educated (p < 0.05). 

NOTES: Limited to women aged 25 and over. WIC is the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children. GED is General Educational 

Development high school equivalency diploma. Access data table for Figure 4 at: https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/databriefs/db298_table.pdf#4.

SOURCE: NCHS, National Vital Statistics System, Natality. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
NCHS Data Brief ■ No. 298 ■ January 2018

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Summary

Eligibility for participation by pregnant women in the WIC Program is determined by household 

poverty status; only those with household incomes below 185% of the federal poverty line are 

eligible (1). The 2016 birth file is the first to include national data on receipt of WIC food during 

pregnancy. Nationwide, 4 in 10 women received WIC benefits while pregnant (39.6%). At the 

state level, prenatal WIC receipt rates ranged from 21.2% in Utah to 52.2% in Alabama. Among 

the six maternal age groups, the prenatal WIC receipt rate in 2016 was highest for women under 

age 20. Women with less education had higher rates than those with more education. Hispanic, 

non-Hispanic black, and AIAN women had higher rates than those in other race and Hispanicorigin groups. A forthcoming report from the National Center for Health Statistics will present 

detailed information on this new birth certificate item.

Definitions

Maternal education: Analyses are restricted to women aged 25 and over to allow for completion 

of education.

Prenatal WIC: Measure from information on the 2003 U.S. Standard Certificate of Live Birth 

based on the question, “Did you receive WIC food for yourself because you were pregnant with 

this child? (Yes/No)” (4).

Prenatal WIC receipt rate: Number of women who received prenatal WIC divided by the total 

number of women who gave birth, multiplied by 100.

Race and Hispanic origin: Race and Hispanic origin are reported separately on birth certificates. 

Data shown by Hispanic origin include all persons of Hispanic origin of any race. Data for nonHispanic persons are shown separately for each single-race group. The 2003 revision of the U.S. 

Standard Certificate of Live Birth allows the reporting of five race categories. The response of 

those who reported more than one race have been “bridged” to one single race.

Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC): Serves 

low-income persons who are at risk nutritionally. Eligibility is based on income and population 

category. The categories include pregnant women, breastfeeding women and nonbreastfeeding 

postpartum women, and infants and children up to their fifth birthday. Household income must be 

below 185% of the federal poverty line. WIC provides supplemental nutritious foods, nutrition 

education and counseling at WIC clinics, and screening and referrals to other health, welfare, and 

social services for participants (1).
NCHS Data Brief ■ No. 298 ■ January 2018

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Data source and methods

Data are from the 2016 natality data set, from the National Vital Statistics System. The vital 

statistics natality file is based on information derived from birth certificates and includes 

information for all births occurring in the United States. References to comparisons indicate 

differences that are statistically significant at the 0.05 level using a z test for difference of 

proportions and a Cochran-Armitage test for linear trend. Computations exclude records for 

which information is unknown. Prenatal WIC participation was unknown for 1.3% of records.

About the authors

Anne K. Driscoll and Michelle J.K. Osterman are with the National Center for Health Statistics, 

Division of Vital Statistics, Reproductive Statistics Branch.
NCHS Data Brief ■ No. 298 ■ January 2018

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References

1. Thorn B, Tadler C, Huret N, Ayo E, Trippe C, Mendelson M, et al. WIC participant and

program characteristics 2014: Final report. 2015. Available from:

https://fns-prod.azureedge.net/sites/default/files/ops/WICPC2014.pdf.

2. Khanani I, Elam J, Hearn R, Jones C, Maseru N. The impact of prenatal WIC participation on

infant mortality and racial disparities. Am J Public Health 100 Suppl 1:S204–9. 2010.

3. Jackson MI. Early childhood WIC participation, cognitive development and academic

achievement. Soc Sci Med 126:145–53. 2015.

4. National Center for Health Statistics. 2003 revision of the U.S. Standard Certificate of Live

Birth. 2003. Available from: https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/dvs/birth11-03final-ACC.pdf. 
NCHS Data Brief ■ No. 298 ■ January 2018

Suggested citation

Driscoll AK, Osterman MJK. Maternal 

characteristics of prenatal WIC participation 

in the United States, 2016. NCHS Data 

Brief, no 298. Hyattsville, MD: National 

Center for Health Statistics. 2018.

Copyright information

All material appearing in this report is in 

the public domain and may be reproduced 

or copied without permission; citation as to 

source, however, is appreciated.

National Center for Health 

Statistics

Charles J. Rothwell, M.S., M.B.A., Director

Jennifer H. Madans, Ph.D., Associate 

Director for Science

Division of Vital Statistics

Delton Atkinson, M.P.H., M.P.H., P.M.P., 

Director

Hanyu Ni, Ph.D., M.P.H., Associate Director 

for Science

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