Clinical Summary of U.S. Preventive Services Task Force Recommendation
This document is a summary of the 2008 recommendation of the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) on counseling to promote breastfeeding.
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| Population |
Pregnant Women | New Mothers | The Mother's Partner,
Other Family Members,
and Friends | Infants and
Young Children |
| Recommendation |
Promote and support breastfeeding
Grade: B recommendation |
| Benefits of Breastfeeding |
Mothers
Less likelihood of breast and ovarian cancer |
Infants
Fewer ear infections,
lower-respiratory-tract infections, and gastrointestinal infections |
Young Children
Less likelihood of asthma, type 2 diabetes, and obesity |
| Interventions to Promote Breastfeeding |
Interventions to promote and support breastfeeding have been found to increase
the rates of initiation, duration, and exclusivity of breastfeeding. Consider multiple
strategies, including:
- Formal breastfeeding education for mothers and families
- Direct support of mothers during breastfeeding
- Training of primary care staff about breastfeeding and techniques for breastfeeding support
- Peer support
Interventions that include both prenatal and postnatal components may be most effective at increasing breastfeeding duration.
In rare circumstances, for example for mothers with HIV and infants with galactosemia, breastfeeding is not recommended. Interventions to promote breastfeeding should empower individuals to make informed choices
supported by the best available evidence. |
| Implementation |
System-level interventions with senior leadership support may be more likely to be sustained over time. |
For a summary of the evidence systematically reviewed in making this recommendation, the full recommendation statement, and supporting documents please go to: http://www.preventiveservices.ahrq.gov.
Disclaimer: Recommendations made by the USPSTF are independent of the U.S. government. They should not be construed as an official position of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality or the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
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Copyright and Source Information
This document is in the public domain within the United States. For
information on reprinting, contact Randie Siegel, Associate Director, Office of Communications and Knowledge Transfer, Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality,
540 Gaither Road, Rockville, MD 20850.
Requests for linking or to incorporate content in electronic resources
should be sent to: info@ahrq.gov.
AHRQ Publication No. 09-05126-EF-3
Current as of October 2008
Internet Citation:
U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. Primary Care Interventions to Promote Breastfeeding: Clinical Summary. AHRQ Publication No. 09-05126-EF-3, October 2008. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Rockville, MD. http://www.ahrq.gov/clinic/uspstf08/breastfeeding/brfeedsum.htm
540 Gaither Road Rockville, MD 20850