Public Health Nursing Practice Exam

Which act provides health services for women and children in the United States?

1. Title IX Act

2. Sheppard-Towner Act

3. Affordable Care Act

4. Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program

The correct answer is: Sheppard-Towner Act

The Sheppard-Towner Act is significant because it was the first federal legislation in the United States specifically addressing maternal and child health. Enacted in 1921, the act aimed to improve the health of mothers and infants by providing funding for prenatal and infant health care services, as well as education regarding nutrition and hygiene. This legislation recognized the unique health needs of women and children and set a precedent for future public health initiatives related to those demographics. While other options like the Affordable Care Act and the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program also focus on aspects of health services for women and children, their scopes are different. The Affordable Care Act expands health coverage and aims to improve health care access broadly, without specifically targeting maternal and child health. The WIC program, established later in 1972, focuses on nutritional support for low-income pregnant women, new mothers, and young children but does not encompass the broader health services established by the Sheppard-Towner Act. The Title IX Act, while it promotes gender equity in education and prohibits sex-based discrimination in federally funded education programs, does not relate specifically to health services for women and children. Thus, the Sheppard-Towner Act distinctly serves as a foundational piece