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Subject:
From:
"Shealy, Katherine" <[log in to unmask]>
Reply To:
Lactation Information and Discussion <[log in to unmask]>
Date:
Tue, 10 Aug 2004 11:43:28 -0400
Content-Type:
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The sample for the NIS is a random digit dial survey - essentially it is
administered to anyone who fits the age criteria who doesn't hang up on
the interviewer, regardless of birth location or vaccination status.
(the statistics are then weighted using a complex algorithm to account
for non-response and other factors that make it then possible to
estimate to the general population)  The NIS is used to assess
vaccination status of children throughout the US, thus it is very
important that those children that are not vaccinated are indeed
included in the survey.

In other words, it is NOT true that non-vaccinated and/or homebirth
children are not included in the sample, in fact they are a key part of
the denominator necessary to assess vaccine prevalence.  Further, the
vaccination prevalence data are from an entirely separate portion of the
survey, regardless of vaccination status, respondents still answer the
bf items.

Sadly, homebirths still only make up approximately 1% of all births
annually throughout the US, though indeed there are portions of the
country where it is higher.  Still, even in the high homebirth areas,
homebirth still only accounts for less than 5% of all births.

I hope this helps at least ease your colleague's concerns.

Katherine


------------------------------

Date:    Tue, 10 Aug 2004 09:41:11 -0500
From:    Marsha Glass <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: CDC Stats

Valerie has questioned the accuracy of the stats from the CDC regarding
breastfeeding rates.  A colleague of mine here in the Hoosier state also
questions it but from a different perspective.  She is quite involved in
the home birth movement and says that many mom who homebirth do not have
their children vaccinated, or at least not on schedule.  The numbers of
homebirths in our state in a year are significant enough to skew those
stats since most of those moms will breastfeed.  They would thus not be
reflected in the stats because they are not vaccinating their kids,
which is where the CDC is gathering their data.  Anyone else want to
comment on this?  My sense is that this would be true in every state,
with some states having higher homebirth numbers than others, hence some
states more skewed than others.

Marsha, who would like to believe that our breastfeeding rates are
higher (we're near the bottom on every chart!) but it's not what I'm
seeing in my community.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Marsha Glass RN, BSN, IBCLC~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Mothers have as powerful an influence over the welfare of future
generations as all other earthly causes combined.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~John S. C. Abbot~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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