Are US Mothers Meeting the Healthy People 2010 Breastfeeding Targets for Initiation,Duration,and Exclusivity? The 2003 and 2004 National Immunization Surveys

Abstract

Using data from the National Immunization Surveys (2003 and 2004), the authors model the influence of child, maternal, and state- or metropolitan-level factors on the initiation, duration, and exclusivity of breastfeeding to determine the characteristics of groups meeting the Healthy People 2010 targets. Analyses indicate that only children of college graduates meet the targets for breastfeeding at initiation, 6 months, and 12 months; no groups meet the target for exclusive breastfeeding. Results indicate a low prevalence of breastfeeding among children of single mothers, less educated mothers, participants in the Women, Children, and Infants program, and those living in nonwestern states and in areas of high newborn risk. Hispanic children, children of college graduates, and children living in the West consistently have higher odds of breastfeeding. Only the prevalence of breastfeeding early postpartum is near the Healthy People 2010 target of 75%, the percentages for 6 or 12 months and exclusive breastfeeding are well below. J Hum Lact. 24(3):278-288.

A través de la utilización de datos de la Encuesta Nacional de Inmunización (2003 & 2004), se formularon los factores que influenciaron al niño, madres y estados o areas metropolitanas en la iniciación, duración y exclusividad de la lactancia materna para determinar las características de grupos de acuerdo a las metas de Healthy People 2010. El análisis indica que solo los hijos de personas con grados universitarios cumplen con las metas de iniciación de lactancia, 6 meses, y 12 meses y ningún grupo cumplió con la meta de lactancia materna exclusiva. Los resultados indican una baja prevalencia de lactancia materna en los hijos de madres solteras; menos educadas; participantes del programa WIC; que viven en estados que nos son del Oeste; y que viven en áreas de alto riesgo para el recién nacido. Los niños hispanos, niños de graduados universitarios, y niños que viven en el Oeste tienen consistentemente índices más altos de lactancia materna. Solo la prevalencia de lactancia materna en el postparto temprano esta cerca de la meta de 75% del Healthy People 2010, los porcentajes de 6 o 12 meses y de lactancia materna exclusiva están bastante bajos.

Keywords

breastfeeding sociodemographic differences WIC

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