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How To... - Interpret Data - Case Studies -
Breastfeeding
Who and When: Is breastfeeding prevalence increasing or decreasing
among racial and ethnic groups over time?
In addition to knowing who is at risk, it is also helpful to determine
how breastfeeding prevalences have changed by race and ethnicity over time. The PedNSS Table 19C, Summary of Trends in Breastfeeding Indicators by
Race/Ethnicity, provides breastfeeding trends for the most recent 10 years
by race and ethnicity.
Sample: The PedNSS Table 19C, Summary of Trends in Breastfeeding
Indicators by Race/Ethnicity
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Data are shown for the most recent 10-year trend from
1992 to 2001 by race/ethnicity. |
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The prevalence of black infants that were ever
breastfed increased from 13.8% in 1992 to 30.8% in 2001. Although black
infants have the lowest prevalence of ever breastfed, they had the
largest relative increase of 198% ((30.8 minus 13.8)/13.8 = 1.98 x 100
= 198%) in the percentage of infants ever breastfed during this time
period compared to other racial/ethnic groups. |
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Hispanic infants who have the highest prevalence of
ever breastfed for the same time period had the next largest increase,
a relative increase of 73% ((62.7 minus 36.1)/36.1 = 0.73 x 100 = 73%)
or a change in prevalence from 36.1% to 62.7%. |
This graph, derived from Table 19C, shows the gradual increase in
prevalence of ever breastfed for all racial and ethnic groups except for
back infants who had a more rapid increase in the prevalence of ever
breastfed shown by the line with the square symbol.
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Trends in the percentage of infants ever breastfed
* by race and ethnicity
* Among infants born during the reporting period. Year 2010 target:
increase the proportion of mothers who breastfeed their babies in the
early postpartum period to 75%. |
Who and When: Is breastfeeding prevalence increasing or decreasing among
race and ethnic groups over time?
Gradual increases in breastfeeding prevalence have been observed for
all race and ethnic groups between 1992 and 2001. However, the largest
relative gains are among black and Hispanic infants.
Summary
Despite increases observed over the last 10 years, in 2001 the
prevalence of infants ever breastfed and breastfed 6 and 12 months was
below the Healthy People 2010 target. The epidemiological analysis of
breastfeeding data enabled us to identify at least two opportunities where
the WIC program could intervene. First, the low breastfeeding prevalence
is a concern for all race and ethnic groups and secondly, a large decrease
in the prevalence (31% relative decrease) occurs for infants breastfed
between 1 and 6 weeks of age. Developing and implementing appropriate
interventions for each of these observations may improve breastfeeding
prevalence in the state WIC PedNSS population. Additionally, it might be
helpful to learn more about interventions that have been implemented in
the counties where the breastfeeding prevalence are the highest.
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