How Do Hospitals Measure Up in Supporting Breast-Feeding?

Despite improvements, U.S. hospitals have a long way to go.

Only about 20% of women in the U.S. breast-feed exclusively for the recommended 6 months, despite 80% initiating breast-feeding. In 1991, the WHO and the CDC put forth evidence-based guidelines for hospitals (“Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding,” available at http://www.unicef.org/newsline/tenstps.htm) to promote the practice. The CDC conducts biennial surveys to assess the implementation of these baby-friendly policies and to monitor racial disparities in access to high quality maternity care (NEJM JW Women's Health Oct 2014 and MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2014; 63:725).

Between 2007 and 2013, the percent of hospitals that implemented at least 5 of the 10 steps increased from 29% to 54%. Hospitals were most likely to provide breast-feeding…

Reviewing Author

Anna Wald, MD, MPH

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardAicuris; Bayer; GSK; Innovative Molecules; Merck; MAPP Biopharmaceutical (Safety Monitoring Committee)

RoyaltiesUpToDate

Grant/Research SupportNIH/National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases; GSK; Moderna; Assembly Biomedical; Aicuris

Editorial BoardsSexually Transmitted Diseases; Sexually Transmitted Infections; Journal of Infectious Diseases

Leadership PositionsID Division Chiefs Community of Practice (At-Large Member)