Thank you, Jan, I had not been able to find that page! I think part of the issue is what I have been looking at are babies born 1999-2004, and this page you gave reports babies born from 1993-4 to 2005-6. That may explain the discrepancies in numbers.

The gov't has an interest in reporting inflated numbers, because it means their campaigns are working. But, Ross also has an interest to inflate numbers, because it means they are not undermining breastfeeding. That's part of why I don't get why Ross' numbers are low.

Out of my snapshot image yesterday, 5 out of 7 moms giving birth had cesareans. That's a rate of 71%. Hardly the reported rate of 25% (or what is it now?). Out of the 7 babies born, only one was being exclusively breastfed. That's 14%. Two of the remaining 6 babies were "breastfed" but one baby had not actually successfully latched. If you take the traditional definition of "breastfeeding" I suppose you could call it 43% of this particular population "initiating breastfeeding" until you think about the fact that only one baby was actually breastfeeding at all. 

I'm finding it really hard to believe we have met our "Healthy People 2010" goals. Really hard to believe.

Best wishes,
Sam

We're going to Candy Mountain, Charlie!

-----Original Message-----
From: Lactation Information and Discussion [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of [log in to unmask]
Sent: Thursday, October 23, 2008 7:45 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Statistics - again

Nikki says,
 

<<The CDC is a survey of a representative sample of women across  the country,
and is a true collection of statistics. Folks are called at  home and asked
questions. The numbers for breastfeeding are not quite a  straight line,
there is a very slight upward slope over the past 5 years.  However,
exclusive bf rates have dropped over the past few  years>>
 
However, gathering statistics from 424 women out of approximately 8 million  
that have given birth over a two year period of time -- is that a true  
representative sampling, even if they have queried all groups?  I don't  know how 
you can get a P value out of that -- but then statistics isn't my forte  -- I'll 
be first to admit that.  It's a sampling of 0.000053%.  Ross'  is a sampling 
of 0.0625%.  
 
And, if it stands to reason that Ross would benefit by having inflated  
statistics, why is it that their numbers (be they from a marketing perspective  or 
whatever) show breastfeeding rates DECLINING where as the CDC shows them  
increasing.  There is a huge difference between 64% and 77% initiation  rate.  
While it is very satisfying to think that we have reached the  Healthy People 
2010 goal of 75% initiating bf, I'm not convinced we really have,  because I am 
having a hard time reconciling the CDC data.
 
Sam, you probably have seen this, but the CDC report, including the number  
of mothers interviewed over the last years is at 
_www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/databriefs/db05.htm_ (http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/databriefs/db05.htm)   . You can 
click on collection methods to see how many women were included.
 
Jan Barger, RN, MA, IBCLC, FILCA>>

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