New CDC Study Finds Gaps in Breastfeeding Support in U.S. Hospitals and
Birth Centers
Many birth facilities in the United States are not providing maternity
care that is fully supportive of breastfeeding, according to a study in
today?s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Reports (MMWR), a publication of
the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Research has shown that what happens in the hospital or birth center plays
a crucial role in establishing breastfeeding and helping mothers to
continue breastfeeding after leaving the birth facility.
The study, ?Breastfeeding-Related Maternity Care Practices among Hospitals
and Birth Centers ? United States, 2007,? analyzed responses from nearly
2,700 birth facilities in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and
Puerto Rico. It asked birth facilities about their practices and policies
in caring for women who choose to breastfeed their newborns. The practices
were scored on a scale from 0 to 100 points.
The study found that hospitals and birth centers in many southern states
scored lower in practices supportive of breastfeeding compared to other
regions of the nation, with average total maternity practice scores
ranging from 48 to 58. Seven southern states ? Alabama, Arkansas,
Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma and West Virginia ? also had
the lowest percentages (less than 30 percent) of children who were
breastfed for 6 months, according to the 2006 National Immunization
Survey.
Western and New England states generally had higher scores compared to
other parts of the country. Vermont and New Hampshire tied for the highest
overall maternity practice scores (81), followed by Maine (77) and Oregon
(74). In addition, Oregon, Maine and Vermont report that more than 75
percent of children were ever breastfed.
The study reported scores related to seven aspects of maternity care.
Nationally, the average facility score was 63 for key maternity practices
in infant nutrition and care.
Out of a possible 100 points, the national scores were: labor and
delivery, 60; breastfeeding assistance, 80; mother-newborn contact, 70;
postpartum feeding, 77; breastfeeding support after hospital discharge,
40; nurse/birth attendant breastfeeding training and education, 51; and
structural and organizational quality, 66. The study also found that mean
total scores combining all seven categories of practice varied
significantly among states ? ranging from a score of 48 in Arkansas to 81
in both New Hampshire and Vermont.
?These findings underscore the importance of improving the way hospitals
and birth centers provide assistance, encouragement and support for
breastfeeding,? said Laurence Grummer-Strawn, Ph.D., chief of the
nutrition branch in CDC?s Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity and
Obesity. ?We have a great deal of work to do to accomplish our national
objectives related to breastfeeding, and birth facilities can make a huge
contribution to this effort.?
National Healthy People 2010 objectives call for 75 percent of new mothers
to initiate breastfeeding, 50 percent to continue for six months, and 25
percent to continue for one year. In addition, the national objectives
have a goal for 40 percent of mothers to breastfeed exclusively for three
months, and 17 percent of women to breastfeed exclusively for six months.
Studies show that both babies and mothers gain many benefits from
breastfeeding. Breast milk contains antibodies that can protect infants
from bacterial and viral infections. Breastfed babies are also less likely
to become overweight compared to formula-fed babies. Research also
indicates that women who breastfeed may have lower rates of diabetes and
breast or ovarian cancers than women who don?t breastfeed.
For general information about breastfeeding, visit
www.cdc.gov/breastfeeding.
###
Liz Maseth RN, IBCLC
Outpatient Lactation Services
Maternal Fetal Medicine
Akron Children's Hospital
(330) 543-4531
Fax (330) 543-4508
Pager (330) 914-0096
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