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Identifying Barriers Preventing Latina Women from Accessing WIC Online Health Information

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Abstract

The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) is a program for low-income women and children under age five. The purpose of this study was to identify barriers to accessing online WIC resources among Latina WIC clients. Five focus groups were conducted with Spanish-speaking participants recruited from a single WIC clinic. Two key themes emerged relating to barriers in accessing WIC’s online resources. The first theme, access issues, included three subthemes: lack of computer/Internet resources; family barriers to computer use; and computer literacy. The second theme, perceived value of the website, included three subthemes: limited time savings; preference for on-site education; and knowledge about the website. This is the first study to evaluate barriers to accessing online resources among Latina women in the WIC program. WIC sites attempting to increase utilization of online resources may be more successful if they serve clients with easy access to a computer with Internet access. They may also consider strategies to increase the value of the online resources, as compared to their current services offered to clients in a face-to-face setting.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Health Science, Brigham Young University, 229-D Richards Building, Provo, UT, 84602, USA

    Jennifer Vehawn, Joshua H. West, P. Cougar Hall, Benjamin T. Crookston & Brad L. Neiger

  2. Department of Nutrition, Dietetics, and Food Science, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, USA

    Rickelle Richards

Authors
  1. Jennifer Vehawn
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  2. Rickelle Richards
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  3. Joshua H. West
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  4. P. Cougar Hall
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  5. Benjamin T. Crookston
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  6. Brad L. Neiger
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Joshua H. West.

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Vehawn, J., Richards, R., West, J.H. et al. Identifying Barriers Preventing Latina Women from Accessing WIC Online Health Information. J Immigrant Minority Health 16, 699–705 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10903-013-9801-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10903-013-9801-0

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