Barriers to WIC Benefits Redemption among Participants in Washington State

Abstract

<bold>Objective:</bold> To generate knowledge about the experience of using Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women Infants and Children (WIC) checks to improve WIC check redemption rates. <bold>Design:</bold> Qualitative analysis of focus group discussions. <bold>Setting:</bold> Two WIC clinics in areas that have high redemption rates for WIC checks and one clinic in an area with low redemption rates in Washington State. <bold>Participants:</bold> Twenty three WIC participants in five focus groups. <bold>Phenomenon of interest:</bold> Barriers and enhancers of WIC check redemption, especially the cash value voucher (CVV) for fruits and vegetables. <bold>Analysis:</bold> Transcriptions were coded; coded statements were organized into major themes across a socioecologic framework. Coding structures and analysis were strengthened by iterative interactions between researchers. <bold>Results:</bold> Barriers to redemption arise from multiple sociological levels, but benefits and positive factors, as well as solutions participants use, may lessen the effects of barriers. Factors negatively impacting the WIC shopping experience included food package policies, grocery store experiences, and personal misunderstanding and embarrassment; positive factors included helpful vendors and both vendor and participant understandings about the use of CVV. <bold>Conclusions and Implications:</bold> WIC check redemption may be improved by state and local actions to educate participants and vendors and improve the shopping experience.