by Anne Eglash MD, IBCLC, FABM
How do the breastfeeding rates in the United States compare with other countries? UNICEF recently published its document entitled ‘Breastfeeding: A Mother’s Gift, for Every Child’. According to UNICEF, increasing breastfeeding rates could save 850,000 children under age 5 each year, most of whom are under 6 months of age. In addition to saving lives, breastfeeding optimizes a child’s growth and development, and protects women from various disease such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease, breast cancer, ovarian cancer, and postpartum hemorrhage. Improving breastfeeding rates could prevent 20,000 maternal deaths from breast cancer each year.
The report outlines various barriers and opportunities to increase breastfeeding rates nationwide. These include initiatives such as Baby Friendly Hospital Certification, government enactment of paid parental leave, and establishment of policies on the right to breastfeed at work. In addition, restrictions on marketing of formula, support of breastfeeding in public spaces, enhancing breastfeeding knowledge and support in health care systems and communities, and improving monitoring systems to track effectiveness of policies and programs all have been shown to positively effect breastfeeding rates.
According to the UNICEF report, which statements do you think is(are) true regarding breastfeeding rates around the world?
- High income countries have higher breastfeeding rates than lower and middle income countries.
- Wealthy people in low income countries have higher breastfeeding rates than lower income people.
- Wealthy people in high income countries have higher breastfeeding rates than lower income people.
- Among high income countries, Ireland has the lowest breastfeeding initiation rate at 55%.
- Only 4% of children born in low and middle income countries are never breastfed.
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The answers are C, D, E
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Milk Mob Comment by Anne Eglash MD, IBCLC, FABM
This document is a blueprint for governments and communities with recommendations proven to raise national breastfeeding rates.
In the United States, we lack legislation that many other countries have established such as paid parental leave, regulation of formula marketing, and recognition of the right for all mothers to receive skilled breastfeeding support in hospitals and birthing centers. UNICEF points out that enacting just one policy does not have the same effectiveness as enacting several key supportive measures.
Although we have pockets of very high breastfeeding rates in certain regions of the USA, federal regulation would work to decrease the disparity in breastfeeding rates between different races, ages, educational levels, and geographic regions, while simultaneously reducing our disparity in infant mortality.
IABLE’s projects are dedicated to UNICEF’s recommendations to strengthen links between health facilities and communities for continued support for breastfeeding, and to establish and maintain community networks that protect, promote and support breastfeeding. Join us for collective impact!