Nutrition Fair: An Effective Nutrition Education Tool in the WIC Setting

Abstract

LEARNING OUTCOME: To quantify changes in nutritional knowledge in the WIC population when an alternative method of nutrition education was used. Nutrition education is a very important component of WIC program. It is aimed to further the nutritional knowledge of WIC participants resulting in improving general health of the entire family. New methods of nutrition education that involve an active participation of the clients may enhance their knowledge gained in the class. One such technique, nutrition fair was conducted three times and compared with three conventional nutrition education classes in Prince Georges County, MD during 1995-96.150 participants each were selected during six voucher pickups and they were tested with questionnaires before and after classes (pre and post tests during each of the three fairs and the corresponding conventional education to assess the nutrition knowledge gained, formed the basis of quantitative analysis). Each fair consisted of several stations and at each station consisted of an educational activity or a game along with nutrition information. Participants were encouraged to attend all the stations and successful participants received several incentives. An overall increase of 15% in nutritional knowledge was found and within certain stations upto 30% increase in knowledge was found in the nutrition fair setting over the conventional education provided. Overall, the results indicate enthusiastic interest in the nutritional fair participation over the conventional education. A larger scale study may be initiated throughout the county soon. These results show that such studies will be very beneficial in urgent dissemination of current nutrition information and especially for larger groups of clients.