Who is breast-feeding? Recent trends from the pregnancy risk assessment and monitoring system

Objective To examine breast-feeding initiation and continuation among women with recent live births in 10 states. Study design By using Pregnancy Risk Assessment and Monitoring System surveillance data (n = 96,204), we assessed breast-feeding initiation and continuation for greater than or equal to10 weeks among women with recent deliveries from 1993 to 1998. We used 1993 as the base for comparing results by using univariate and multivariate analyses. Results Ten states showed a significant increase of 18% in initiation of breast-feeding from 1993 to 1998, from 57.0% (95% confidence interval [CI], 55.6-58.4) to 67.5% (95% CI, 66.1-68.9). Initiation increased among vulnerable groups such as low-income and black women, participants in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children program, and mothers of infants admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit. The percentage of women predominantly breast-feeding at greater than or equal to10 weeks among women who initiated remained stable: 58.5% (95% CI, 56.5-60.5) in 1993 and 57.9% (95% CI, 56.0-59.8) in 1998. More women in vulnerable groups initiated breast-feeding, but those from higher socioeconomic groups continued breast-feeding. Conclusions Breast-feeding initiation significantly increased, and several states exceeded the year 2010 objective. Breastfeeding continuation among women who initiated remained stable; however, gaps remained, indicating a continued need to implement breast-feeding promotion programs.