Wet Set
Gazette: Dec-Jan 2004
CALIFORNIA RANKS IN THE TOP FOURTH IN US BREASTFEEDING RATES
Local Ad Council Campaign Breastfeeding Demonstration Site Offers
Community Breastfeeding Support
According to a recent study published by the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention (CDC), breastfeeding rates in California
during a child’s first year of life ranked high. Other states in the
West ranked higher than California.
The American Academy of Pediatrics, US Department of Health and
Human Services and leading medical and pediatric organizations
recommend that babies be fed nothing but breast milk for the first
six months of life. The national average for mothers who exclusively
breastfeed their babies for at least six months is low – 14.2
percent. In California, the rate for exclusive breastfeeding is also
very low – 16.2% at six months. Possible explanations for these low
rates are hospital routines that interfere with breastfeeding,
concern about returning to work, thinking that formula is just as
good as breastmilk, and embarrassment to breastfeed in public.
The new breastfeeding data were gathered as part of CDC’s 2003
National Immunization Survey (NIS), which surveyed mothers in 50
states, the District of Columbia, and selected geographic areas
within the states. The survey revealed that six states – Hawaii,
Idaho, Oregon, Utah, Vermont, and Washington – met all of the
Healthy People 2010 objectives for breastfeeding:
• Seventy-five percent of new mothers initiate breastfeeding;
• Fifty percent continued to breastfeed for at least six months;
• Twenty-five percent continued to breastfeed for at least 12
months.
California was one of the fourteen states that achieved the 75%
initiation rate.
Four states met the objective of 50% of mothers continuing to
breastfeed for at least six months. California was below that
objective at 45.6%.
Eight states met or exceeded the objective of 25% of mothers
continuing to breastfeed for at least 12 months. California was
above that objective at 25.1%.
“I am very encouraged about California’s breastfeeding initiation
rates especially given the documented evidence that shows links
between breastfeeding and a reduced risk of infant mortality and
childhood illness and disease. However, I am very concerned about
California’s low rates of exclusive breastfeeding. Childhood obesity
and overweight may be reduced by exclusively breastfeeding for at
least six months,” said Wendy Slusser, MD, Breastfeeding Task Force
of Greater Los Angeles, Department of Pediatrics, UCLA and Venice
Family Clinic.
The survey also confirmed previous findings that Latinas, African
Americans and Asian/Pacific Islanders had consistently lower
breastfeeding rates than Whites. The highest initiation rates were
Whites (90%). Latinas born outside the United State were more likely
to initiate breastfeeding (86%) than Latinas born in the US (72%).
Asian/Pacific Islander initiated breastfeeding at 78%. African
Americans had the lowest breastfeeding initiation rates at 63%.
Racial/Ethnic disparities worsen with lower breastfeeding rates at
six and 12 months.
Exceeding the Healthy People 2010 objective of 50% at six months
were Whites (62%) and Foreign-Born Latinas (58%). However, below
that objective were Asian/Pacific Islanders (37%), US-Born Latinas
(34%) and African-Americans (27%).
At 12 months the Healthy People 2010 objective is 25%. Whites (36%)
and Foreign-Born Latinas (36%) exceeded that goal. However, below
that objective were Asian/Pacific Islanders (18%), US-Born Latinas
(16%) and African-Americans (14%).
Source: Breastfeeding Practices, LA County Department of Health
Services, March 2004.
Both babies and mothers gain many benefits from breastfeeding
according to CDC and local experts. Breast milk is easy to digest
and contains antibodies that can protect infants from bacterial and
viral infections. Breastfed babies have fewer bouts of diarrhea, ear
infections and respiratory infections. Breastfed children have
reduced risk of Type 1 diabetes, obesity, overweight, and leukemia.
Breastfed children score higher on cognitive and intelligence tests.
Research indicates that women who breastfeed their babies may also
have lower rates of certain breast and ovarian cancers. Nursing
mothers also burn more calories, making it easier for them to return
to their pre-pregnancy weight.
Local Breastfeeding Outreach
The Breastfeeding Task Force of Greater Los Angeles is working to
increase breastfeeding rates in southern California. It is one of
eighteen U.S. cities selected as a site of a Community Based
Demonstration Project (CDP) to work on the National Breastfeeding
Awareness Campaign in partnership with the Office on Women's Health
(OWH) in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
The CDP is working in coordination with the Office on Women’s Health
and the Advertising Council to implement the National Breastfeeding
Awareness Campaign at the local level and to increase breastfeeding
rates in the U.S. The campaign, which was launched in June 2004, is
promoting breastfeeding, especially among first-time parents
(mothers and fathers) who might not normally breastfeed their baby.
The overall goal of the campaign is to meet the Healthy People
breastfeeding objectives: increase the proportion of mothers who
exclusively breastfeed their babies in the early postpartum period
to 75% and those within 6 months postpartum to 50% by the year 2010.
The Breastfeeding Task Force of Greater Los Angeles is:
• Offering referrals to lactation consultation, peer counseling, and
mother-to-mother support groups, pre and post birth breastfeeding
workshops for mothers, fathers, and other family members;
• Disseminating breastfeeding guidelines and resources for business
community and childcare providers
• Providing continuing education for healthcare providers, lactation
consultants, breastfeeding educators, and peer counselors who
provide maternal and child care on the basics of lactation,
breastfeeding counseling, and in-service training;
• Providing a free helpline (888-278-6455) for referrals to
Lactation Specialists who can respond to breastfeeding questions and
provide resource materials. The hours of operation are Monday
through Friday, 8:00 am to 5:00 pm, in English and Spanish.
• Providing a free website (www.breastfeedla.org) with resources for
parents and health care providers.
State Ever Breastfeeding Bfeeding at 6 months Bfeeding at 12 months
Exclusive bfeeding at 3 months Exclusive bfeeding at 6 months
California 83.7 45.6 25.1 53.5 16.2
Source: 2003 National Immunization Survey, Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention, Department of Health and Human Services
[1]
Exclusive breastfeeding is defined in this study as only breastmilk
and water - no solids or other liquids
About the Breastfeeding Task Force of Greater
Los Angeles
The
Breastfeeding Task Force of Greater Los Angeles is a non-profit
organization dedicated to improving infant health by educating the
public about breastfeeding support and decreasing the societal
barriers to breastfeeding. For more information, please visit its
website at
www.breastfeedla.org
