The Centers for Disease Control is chock-a-block with data on breastfeedings
rates (initiation, duration and exclusivity) in the USA.  See
http://www.cdc.gov/breastfeeding/data/NIS_data/.  Bottom line:  Initiation
is pretty good, but we (in the USA) nose-dive on the *exclusivity* and
*duration* rates.

From the CDC site, reviewing data from 1999-2007:  "An overall 75% of
infants born in 2007 were breastfed, meeting the *Healthy People
2010*objective for initiation.  However, breastfeeding duration and
exclusivity
continue to fall short of their corresponding objectives.  Among children
born in 2007, 43% were breastfeeding at 6 months and 22% at 12 months of
age.  Thirty three percent of infants born in 2007 were exclusively
breastfed through 3 months of age, and approximately 13% were exclusively
breastfed for 6 months."

-- 
Liz Brooks JD IBCLC FILCA
Wyndmoor, PA, USA

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