Island County > Public Health > Community & Family Health > Health Effects & Cost Benefits

Health Effects & Cost Benefits

Studies show that WIC plays an important role in improving birth outcomes and containing health-care costs. WIC has a positive impact on children's diets. WIC improves infant-feeding practices by actively promoting breastfeeding as the best method of feeding infants. WIC clients have improved rates of childhood immunizations and a regular source of health care.

Specific benefits of WIC include the following:

Pregnant women on WIC:

Consume more of the nutrients essential for optimal growth and development, such as iron, protein, calcium and vitamins A, C, and D.
Get into prenatal care earlier in pregnancy.
Have fewer premature babies.
Have fewer low and very low birth-weight babies.
Experience fewer fetal and infant deaths.

Children on WIC:

Consume more of the nutrients essential for optimal growth and development, such as iron, protein, calcium, and vitamins A, C, and D.
Are more likely to have normal childhood growth.
Have less childhood anemia.
Have better immunization rates.
Have better access to pediatric health care.
Have increased vocabulary and memory scores.

Cost benefits of WIC:

Every WIC dollar used to serve pregnant women saves $1.92 to $4.21 in Medicaid costs.
WIC reduces the rate of very low birth-weight babies by 44%. It costs between $30,000 and $70,000 to raise a low or very low birth-weight baby to normal weight.

DOCUMENTS

Island County Annual Report 2008
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Annual report outlining Island County services rendered in 2008 (most recent report). Includes benefits to local and state economy.

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Last Modified: 9/15/2010