The category of predisposing conditions poses a challenge to the committee's analysis of the scientific basis of the nutrition risk criteria. A large number of behavioral, cultural, nutrition, and medical conditions can place individuals at risk of poor nutrition status, and states have used considerable latitude in defining predisposing nutrition risk criteria. In addition to homelessness and migrancy, other predisposing risks used to certify the eligibility of individuals for participation in the WIC program include passive smoking, low maternal education, young caregiver, battering, child of a mentally retarded parent, and child abuse and neglect. This chapter summarizes the scientific evidence for these predisposing nutrition risk criteria. Table 7-1 presents the number of states using each of these predisposing risk criteria for women, infants, and children. Table 7-2 provides a summary of these criteria as predictors of nutrition risk and of benefit from WIC program participation.

This chapter does not cover caretaker physically disabled or inadequate facilities for food preparation or storage. Physical disability is a broad term covering widely varying conditions, most of which are compatible with appropriate child care. Apart from homelessness, the committee did not find a scientific basis on which to review the relationship between food preparation facilities and nutrition risk or benefit.