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Methods to Improve the Use of Breastfeeding

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Nutrition in Infancy

Part of the book series: Nutrition and Health ((NH))

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Abstract

The nutritional benefits of breast milk as well as the psychosocial benefits of bonding between mother and infant have been well established in the literature, and widely disseminated to the public. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the initial 6 months postpartum, with continued breastfeeding through at least the first year of life, or as long as desired by both mother and infant [1]. The Department of Health & Human Services Healthy People 2020 goals aimed to increase breastfeeding rates to 81.9 % immediately postpartum, 60.6 % at 6 months, and 34.1 % at 1 year [2]. However, the United States has continued to fall short of these goals, with the latest statistics from the National Immunization Survey (NIS) revealing breastfeeding continuation at merely 43 % at 6 months and 22 % at 1 year [3]. Exclusive breastfeeding rates are even lower, at only 33 % at 3 months and 13 % at 6 months [3]. Furthermore, only one state in the U.S. has met all five Healthy People 2020 objectives (Table 16.1). In order to improve breastfeeding rates internationally, the World Health Organization (WHO) in conjunction with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) developed the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative in 1991 (Table 16.2), and the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) made evidence-based primary care-based intervention recommendations in 1999 to support breastfeeding. Despite increasing awareness of the importance of breastfeeding, as well as the various efforts to improve breastfeeding rates, there remains a need for strategies and programs to increase exclusive and predominant breastfeeding initiation and continuation in the U.S and abroad.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Yale School of Nursing, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA

    Asefeh Faraz M.S.N., F.N.P.B.C.

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  1. Asefeh Faraz M.S.N., F.N.P.B.C.
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Correspondence to Asefeh Faraz M.S.N., F.N.P.B.C. .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Arizona Health Science Center, Mel and Enid Zuckerman, University of Arizona, 1295 N. Martin, Tucson, 85724-5155, Arizona, USA

    Ronald Ross Watson

  2. Centre for Gastroenterology, and Nutrition, University College London, Gower Street, London, WC1E 6BT, United Kingdom

    George Grimble

  3. Dept. Nutrition & Dietetics, King's College, Stamford St. 150, London, SE1 9NH, United Kingdom

    Victor R. Preedy

  4. Division of Health Promotion Sciences, Mel and Enid Zuckerman, University of Arizona, 1295 N. Martin Avenue, Tucson, 85724, Arizona, USA

    Sherma Zibadi

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Faraz, A. (2013). Methods to Improve the Use of Breastfeeding. In: Watson, R., Grimble, G., Preedy, V., Zibadi, S. (eds) Nutrition in Infancy. Nutrition and Health. Humana Press, Totowa, NJ. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-62703-224-7_16

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-62703-224-7_16

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  • Publisher Name: Humana Press, Totowa, NJ

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-62703-223-0

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-62703-224-7

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