Yes, we have good data collection here  but it is not perfect.

I would have to go to the original document (of Infant Feeding 2005, 
which is our quinquennial (lovin' that word) survey)  to quote but 
IIRC the researchers acknowledge that the 1 per cent of 'exclusive 
breastfeeding to six months' came from a poorly-worded question.

If you say to a mother, 'when did your breastfed baby start solid 
foods?', mothers who excl bf to six months will say 'six months' - 
they *did* excl bf to six months and *then* introduced solids at 
exactly that age. They will tend to say this knowing it is the 
'right' answer, and not realising that they will then go down as 
*not* bf excl to six months!

So, our famous '1 per cent excl  bf to six months' is an artefact of 
the questionnaire, not a realistic number of the women who breastfeed 
exclusively for this time.

Now....experience and observation tell me the 'real' number is not 
very high - but it could be double.  Wow, a whole two per 
cent......but it's more than 1!

Do my UK colleagues agree?

I am hoping the 2010 survey will have a better-worded question.

Heather Welford Neil
NCT bfc, tutor, UK
-- 

             ***********************************************

Archives: http://community.lsoft.com/archives/LACTNET.html
To reach list owners: [log in to unmask]
Mail all list management commands to: [log in to unmask]
COMMANDS:
1. To temporarily stop your subscription write in the body of an email: set lactnet nomail
2. To start it again: set lactnet mail
3. To unsubscribe: unsubscribe lactnet
4. To get a comprehensive list of rules and directions: get lactnet welcome