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Breastfeeding Rates Vary Widely by State
National Average for Breastfeeding at Least 6
Months Is Less Than 15%
By
Jennifer Warner
Reviewed By Michael Smith, MD
on Thursday, August 05, 2004
WebMD Medical News
Aug.
5, 2004 -- The number of new mothers who start
breastfeeding their infants and stick with it
for six months or more varies widely from state
to state in the U.S., according to a new CDC report.
The study shows the national average for exclusive
breastfeeding for six months in 2003 was 14.2%,
and only Oregon had an exclusive-breastfeeding
rate of more than 25% at six months.
It's the first time the CDC has released state-by-state
data on breastfeeding rates.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends
that babies be breastfed exclusively -- with no
baby formula -- for the first six months of life.
To see how your state fared on this recommendation,
see the table below.
State Exclusive
Breastfeeding1 at 6 Months
Alabama 11%
Alaska 20%
Arizona 17%
Arkansas 7%
California 16%
Colorado 15%
Connecticut 15%
Delaware 10%
District Of Columbia 13%
Florida 14%
Georgia 14%
Hawaii 21%
Idaho 24%
Illinois 11%
Indiana 12%
Iowa 12%
Kansas 16%
Kentucky 10%
Louisiana 7%
Maine 19%
Maryland 17%
Massachusetts 14%
Michigan 13%
Minnesota 22%
Mississippi 5%
Missouri 12%
Montana 21%
Nebraska 13%
Nevada 12%
New Hampshire 17%
New Jersey 18%
New Mexico 13%
New York 14%
North Carolina 12%
North Dakota 16%
Ohio 15%
Oklahoma 9%
Oregon 27%
Pennsylvania 13%
Rhode Island 13%
South Carolina 14%
South Dakota 15%
Tennessee 12%
Texas 12%
Utah 22%
Vermont 24%
Virginia 16%
Washington 21%
West Virginia 7%
Wisconsin 16%
Wyoming 13%
1Exclusive
breastfeeding is defined in this study as only
breastmilk and water - no solids or other liquids.
Source:
2003 National Immunization Survey, Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention, Department of
Health and Human Services
"With this new information, state health
departments can compare the breastfeeding rates
in their states and communities with national
objectives," says Donna Stroup, PhD, acting
director of the CDC's Coordinating Center for
Health Promotion, in a news release. "The
information will help agencies concentrate their
efforts where they are most needed and develop
targeted programs to promote breastfeeding."
Breastfeeding by State
The
information in the report was gathered from the
CDC's 2003 National Immunization Survey which
surveyed mothers in 50 states, the District of
Columbia, and selected geographic regions within
the states.
According to the survey, only six states -- Hawaii,
Idaho, Oregon, Utah, Vermont, and Washington --
met all of the following Healthy People 2010 objectives
for breastfeeding:
75% of new mothers initiate breastfeeding.
50% continued to breastfeed for at least six months.
25% continued to breastfeed for at least 12 months.
Fourteen
states met the first objective of having at least
75% of new mothers initiate breastfeeding. The
top five states in this category were Oregon (88%),
Washington (88%), Utah (85.5%), Idaho (83.8%),
and California (83.7%).
Eight states met the second goal of having 25%
or more of mothers continuing to breastfeed for
at least 12 months. The top states in this category
were Hawaii (31%), Vermont (30%), and Alaska (28.9%).
Researchers also found that lower-income mothers
and non-Hispanic black mothers had consistently
lower rates of breastfeeding compared with others.
Breastfeeding Benefits Mother and Baby
"It's
important for new and expectant mothers to know
that breast milk is the ideal food for newborns
and young babies. It's inexpensive, convenient,
and it's uniquely tailored to meet all of a baby's
nutritional needs for the first six months of
life," says William Dietz, MD, director of
CDC's division of nutrition and physical activity,
in the release. "Also, breastfed babies tend
to gain less unnecessary weight that can contribute
to overweight and obesity later in life."
Researchers say breast milk contains valuable
antibodies that can protect infants from infection.
Babies who are breastfed also have less frequent
diarrhea and fewer ear infections and respiratory
infections.
Mothers who breastfeed also burn more calories,
which makes it easier for them to return to their
pre-pregnancy weight. Research also shows women
who breastfeed have lower rates of certain breast
and ovarian cancers.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SOURCES:
News release, CDC. American Academy of Pediatrics.
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