Name
#108 Exploring Disparities in WIC Engagement among Military Families at Fort Campbell, Kentucky
Content Presented on Behalf of
Uniformed Services University
Services/Agencies represented
Uniformed Services University (USU)
Session Type
Posters
Room#/Location
Prince Georges Exhibit Hall A/B
Focus Areas/Topics
Policy/Management/Administrative
Learning Outcomes
Discuss the prevalence of and contributors to food insecurity among military connected families
Explain an intervention to improve WIC engagement in military families at Fort Campbell, KY
Describe disparities in WIC engagement noted among military families at Fort Campbell, KY
Session Currently Live
Description
The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) is a support program to assist low-income, at-risk families whose income falls at or below 185% of the poverty level by providing access to healthy foods and formula. USDA evaluation of national WIC engagement levels has shown that in 2020, only 50% of those eligible for WIC in the US utilized the program, with reported disparities in enrollment by race/ethnicity of participants. Prior study at Walter Reed National MIlitary Medical Center demonstrated low WIC utilization rates among military families seeing pediatric care at an urban academic center. Further study showed that lack of program awareness, misinformation, and stigma are top barriers to WIC enrollment among military families. In an effort to address these barriers, a pilot program was launched at Ft. Campbell, KY to evaluate the effectiveness of an informatics-based intervention strategy utilizing DEERS enrollment data. We first created a list of highly likely to be eligible military families based on the service members rank, years of service, and number of dependents, and then a dedicated community health worker did targeted outreach to these families to confirm eligibility and then refer to the appropriate WIC clinic in Kentucky or Tennessee. Through analysis of our intervention data, we found that service members of non-white race were more likely than white service members to be eligible for the program (18.3 vs 15.8%). Despite the universal nature of the military pay scales and access to health care, there are still racial disparities found in the military. It was also found that out of those deemed eligible, white service members were found to be enrolled in the program at a higher rate than their non-white counterparts (62.9% vs 53.5%). Military families of minority races have been found to lower overall family income but are less likely to be engaged in assistance programs like WIC. Contributing factors to the income disparity between white and non-white service members could be linked to the difference in rank that has been determined through army wide demographics, showing white service members to be in officer ranks at a higher rate (69 vs 31%). As well as being in senior enlisted ranks at a higher rate than their minority peers (52 vs 48%). Non-white service members occupy lower enlisted ranks at a higher rate than white service members (52 vs 48%). Rank in the military is directly correlated with income stability, showing non-white service members to be at an income disadvantage. Differences may also relate to minority service members being less likely to receive special pay, or having spouses who are not employed, negatively impacting overall family income. Therefore, minority families are more likely to be eligible for assistance programs such as WIC but are less likely to be enrolled in comparison to their whitecounterparts in the military community and interventions and policies should take this into account.