I've been in contact with the Health Department here and they are very much
interested in increasing breastfeeding rates.

One of the services I think they can provide is the collection of statistics on
breastfeeding rates - and avoid the Ross dependence there is in the US.  My
question to you is what statistics do we need to compile that would be the most
useful in measuring them?

I have been doing my own very small study but as it entails a long interview, I
can ask many questions related to everything from plans to breastfeed,
childbirth classes, who supported and who provided barriers to breastfeeding as
well as when the first "other'food was introduced and when breastfeeding ended.

I thought in terms of:
        Did you want to breastfeed
        Were you able to breastfeed
        When was your baby given something other than breastmilk
        How long did you exclusively breastfeed
        When did you start solids
        When did you stop breastfeeding.

I assume the questions must be simple, answered with a single word or phrase and
easily tabulated.

Any suggestions?

Jeanette Panchula, BA-SW, RN, IBCLC, LLLL
Puerto Rico
Proyecto Lacta: http://netdial.caribe.net/~prlacta/