Focus Groups Target Health Disparities for Women and Children in Vulnerable Populations


Project Focus


  • Market Research and Focus Groups
  • Message Development and Strategy
  • Special Populations Research

In an effort to foster better health outcomes for women and children, the Ohio Department of Health (ODH) sought to understand the behaviors of WIC participants because program participation numbers had shown a slight decrease in recent years.  ODH also wanted to increase the percentage of African-American women enrolled in WIC who initiate breastfeeding and continue to exclusively breastfeed their infants to 6 months of age and beyond.

RAMA designed a highly participative research processes by conducting 43 focus groups across the state to examine the beliefs, attitudes, and perceptions of participants regarding the new WIC food packages and the barriers that hinder African- American women from breastfeeding.   The results of this process set the stage for a revision to the WIC food package offerings and strategies to promote healthy breastfeeding in communities.

RAMA designed a highly participative research processes by conducting 43 focus groups across the state to examine the beliefs, attitudes, and perceptions of participants regarding the new WIC food packages and the barriers that hinder African- American women from breastfeeding.   The results of this process set the stage for a revision to the WIC food package offerings and strategies to promote healthy breastfeeding in communities.