Racial Gap in U.S. Breastfeeding Rates

March 25, 2010 -- Nearly three-quarters of women in the U.S. attempt to
breastfeed their babies, but breastfeeding rates remain significantly lower
among black mothers compared to white and Hispanic mothers, according to a CDC
survey.
Nationwide 54.4% of black mothers initiated breastfeeding compared to 74.3%
white and 80.4% Hispanic mothers.
The findings are based on a telephone survey to households with children
born between 2003 and 2006. The survey shows that national estimates for
breastfeeding -- from initiation to six months to one year -- were 73.4%,
41.7%, and 21%, respectively. Not surprisingly, breastfeeding rates tapered off
as children grew.
Researchers reported their findings in the March 26 issue of Morbidity
and Mortality Weekly Report, a publication of the CDC.
National Goals for Breastfeeding
Breastfeeding rates have improved in the past 25 years, when federal health
authorities began to publicly advocate for increased breastfeeding. In 1984,
nationwide, 65% of white mothers and 33% of black mothers initiated
breastfeeding; by 2005, that gap had narrowed to 77% of white mothers and 61%
of black mothers.
Overall, the CDC found that most states fell short of meeting the Healthy
People 2010 targets for breastfeeding. Healthy People 2010 is a
federal program designed to improve the overall health of children and adults
in the U.S. The program's goals for initiating breastfeeding, continuing
breastfeeding to age 6 months, and breastfeeding to age 1 year were 75%, 50%,
and 25%, respectively.
CDC researchers reported that several factors can contribute to lower
breastfeeding rates, including the mother being young and undereducated, lower
income, being unmarried, and participating in the federal Women, Infants, and
Children supplemental nutrition program. Cultural differences may also play a
role.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends exclusive breastfeeding for
the first six months of life and continued breastfeeding until the child's
first birthday. Breastfeeding is strongly encouraged because breast milk
contains many antibodies not found in commercial infant formulas that help
protect infants from disease. Breastfeeding has been associated with a reduced
risk of several chronic diseases among children, including obesity, asthma, and
type 2 diabetes. There are also health benefits to the mother, including a
lowered risk of type 2 diabetes, breast and ovarian cancer, and postpartum
depression.
"Breastfeeding provides a wide range of benefits to the mother, child, and
community, and reaching a higher prevalence of infant breastfeeding is an
important public health goal," the CDC researchers wrote. "To continue to work
toward reducing racial/ethnic disparities in breastfeeding, CDC is reassessing
strategies for promoting and supporting breastfeeding among non-Hispanic black
women."
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