183551 Breastfeeding duration among Butte County Breastfeeding Support Center participants

Tuesday, October 28, 2008

Jaclyn Cravens, MS , Center for Nutrition and Activity Promotion, California State University, Chico, CA
Holly C. Nevarez, MPH, PhD, CHES , Department of Health and Community Services, California State University, Chico, Chico, CA
Cindy Wolff, PhD, MPA, RD , Center for Nutrition and Activity Promotion, California State University, Chico, Chico, CA
Kristine Warner, PhD MPH RN , School of Nursing, California State University, Chico, Chico, CA
The numerous benefits of breastfeeding for infants, mothers, families, and societies are widely recognized. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that babies be exclusively breastfed for 6 months. According to the National Immunization Survey conducted by the CDC only 11.3% of babies born during 2004 in the United States were exclusively breastfed for 6 months. Although the rate of exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life is higher in California, it is still a mere 16%.

Butte County, in Northern California, recognized the need to increase the rate of exclusive breastfeeding. As a result, the Breastfeeding Support Center was established to provide free breastfeeding support and services to all women that live in Butte County. The purpose of this study was to identify breastfeeding duration among women receiving services from the Butte County Breastfeeding Support Center.

Results indicate 59% of the mothers receiving services at the Breastfeeding Support Center during the time of data collection were exclusively breastfeeding when their infant reached 6 months of age. This rate far surpasses the national and state percentages for exclusive breastfeeding. Services offered by the Butte County Breastfeeding Support Center appear to be effective and demonstrate a beneficial impact on breastfeeding duration to 6 months of age.

Learning Objectives:
After attending this presentation the participant will be able to(1)identify the differences in exclusive breastfeeding rates at six months of life between Butte County, the State of California, and nationally(2)explain the services offered at the Butte County Breastfeeding Support Center.

Keywords: Breast Feeding, Lactation

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have a faculty partnership with the organization that partally funds the Breastfeeding Support Center
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

See more of: Breastfeeding Support for Low-Income Mothers: Successful Programs
See more of: Maternal and Child Health