Breastfeeding Statistics: Numbers that you should know

by admin

The United States has been very aggressive when it comes to information dissemination and promotion of breastfeeding. Studies and statistical data have been collected over the years to determine if there is improvement in breastfeeding rates all over the country.

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, a center under the supervision of the Department of Health and Human Services, breastfeeding rates has been climbing steadily since 1995. But it still falls short of the Healthy People 2010 objective.

The Healthy People 2010 breastfeeding objectives are divided into initiation and duration of breastfeeding and exclusive breastfeeding and are as follows:

 23 states achieving 75% of mothers initializing breastfeeding
 10 states achieving 50% of mothers breastfeeding their infant at 6 months
 12 states achieving 25% of mothers breastfeeding their infant at 12 months
 10 states achieving 40% of mothers exclusively breastfeeding their infant through 3 months
 8 states achieving 17% of mothers exclusively breastfeeding their infant through 6 months

Nearly half the number of US states has achieved the Healthy People 2010 objective when it comes to breastfeeding. Eight states have met all the objectives of this program. These states are Alaska, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Oregon, Utah, Vermont and Washington.

As of 2005, 74% of babies have initiated breastfeeding, with 43% breastfeeding for 6 months and 21% continue until they reach 12 months of age. In this same year, 35% of infants were exclusively breastfed until they are 3 months of age and 12% continue on to be exclusively breastfed until 6 months.

When it comes to demographics, it is noticeable that the lower income families and other economically disadvantaged groups have lower breastfeeding levels.