Percentage Of US Women Breast-Feeding Their Infants Reaches Highest Level

Breast-Feeding Women

The percentage of women in the U.S. who breast-feed their infants hasreached the highest level on record amid growing evidence that thepractice provides many health benefits to infants and women, accordingto a study published in the Aug. 3 issue of CDC's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, Reuters reports.

Accordingto CDC, breast-feeding has been associated with a decreased risk ofmany diseases and conditions -- including ear infections, respiratorytract infections, obesity, eczema, sudden infant death syndrome anddiarrhea -- among infants. It also is associated with benefits forwomen, including a reduced risk of the most common form of diabetes,and breast and ovarian cancer, the agency said (Dunham, Reuters, 8/3).

Thereport, based on a survey of about 17,000 respondents, found that thepercentage of women who started breast-feeding increased from 71% to74% between 2000 to 2004. However, the report found that the rate ofexclusive breast-feeding during the first three and six months afterbirth was 31% and 11%, respectively (Stobbe, AP/Forbes, 8/2). The goal of the federal government's Healthy People 2010 campaign is to have 50% or more of women breast-feeding at six months and 25% at one year (Kaiser Daily Women's Health Policy Report, 2/2).

Accordingto the study, rates of exclusive breast-feeding were lowest among blackwomen and women who are low-income, unmarried, live in rural areas,have a high school diploma or less education and are younger than age20 (AP/Forbes, 8/2).

"We've made quite a bit ofprogress," CDC epidemiologist and lead author of the report CelestePhilip said. She added that she hopes the new statistics will promptphysicians to renew efforts to promote breast-feeding among women. CDCis working with hospitals to encourage support of breast-feeding in thedays after birth, Philip said (Reuters, 8/2).
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