Back to Annual Meeting

Back to Annual Meeting

APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Gigi Mathew, DrPH, MPH and Cheryl Wold, MPH. Health Assessment and Epidemiology, Los Angeles County Department of Health, 313 N. Figueroa, Los Angeles, CA 90012, 213-240-8071, gmathew@ladhs.org

Extensive research has shown the positive impact of breastfeeding on the health and development of infants and children. This report describes breastfeeding trends among mothers of young children in Los Angeles County. Breastfeeding rates are based on data collected from the 1999, 2002-03 and 2005 Los Angeles County Health Survey, a periodic, population-based telephone survey which collected data on breastfeeding practices (ever breast fed, duration of breastfeeding in months, reasons for not breastfeeding, and reasons for stopping breastfeeding prior to one year) in addition to extensive sociodemographic information. Preliminary results show that more mothers in Los Angeles County are initiating breastfeeding (82%) compared to the previous survey in 1999 (79%). However, racial and ethnic disparities persist in breastfeeding rates, with African Americans (63%) , Asian/Pacific Islanders (78%) and U.S. born Latinas (73%) having lower breastfeeding initiation and duration rates than White women (90%) and Latinas overall (83%). Although the majority of women in Los Angeles County initiate breastfeeding, duration of breastfeeding falls short of the recommended one year and declines steadily over the infant's first year for all major racial/ethnic groups. Only half of all mothers still breastfeed their infants at six months of age, and less than one-third breastfeed at 12 months. The findings presented in this report highlight favorable trends in breastfeeding initiation among most groups, and also points to the need for comprehensive breastfeeding promotion and support that encourages sustained breastfeeding among a diverse population of mothers in the county.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant(learner) in this session will be able to

• Describe breastfeeding rates, predictors of breastfeeding initiation and duration across all populations(i.e., mothers of young children)in Los Angeles County. 2)Evaluate trend data related to breastfeeding practices. 3)Assess public health interventions designed to promote and sustain breastfeeding among mothers in Los Angeles County.

Related Web page: www.lapublichealth.org/ha

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Not Answered