Chapter 1.

Synopsis

Data Connections

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You must read each slide, and complete any questions on the slide, in sequence.

Breast-Feeding in the United States and Around the World

Synopsis

Using interactive maps and data, this activity explores the variations of breast-feeding rates vary within the United States and around the world.

Color image of smiling woman with baby at her breast.

REFERENCES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2014, July). Breastfeeding report card ––United States, 2014. Atlanta, GA: National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

UNICEF. (2014b, October). Infant and young child feeding. UNICEF Global Databases. Retrieved from: http://www.unicef.org/nutrition/index_breastfeeding.html

UNICEF. (2012). The state of the world’s children 2012: Children in an urban world. New York, NY: United Nations.

Elmadfa, I; Meyer, A; Nowak, V; Hasenegger, V; Putz, P; Verstraeten, R, . . . Margetts, B. (2009). European nutrition and health report 2009: Forum of nutrition. European Commission, Health and Consumer Protection, 62.

Breast-Feeding

Color image of a man and woman sitting together while the woman breast-feeds her baby.

Differentiating excellent from less optimal mothering is not easy, once the child’s basic needs for food and protection are met. However, psychosocial development depends on responsive parent–infant relationships. Breast-feeding is one sign of intimacy between mother and infant, itself one aspect of parenting.

Breast-Feeding Rates in the United States

A color image of a map of the United States. Clicking on each state brings up a pop-up window with breast-feeding data for that state.

In the United States, breast-feeding overall is increasing, but some women are more likely to breast-feed than others, as this interactive map shows.

Click on each state to see how many women breast-feed, and for how long.

Question

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Your answer could reference many socioeconomic factors, such as quality of available healthcare, level of education achieved by the mother, whether or not she has the support of a partner, whether or not she must return to work immediately, and whether or not her family members, employer, and others in her community are supportive of breast-feeding. You might also mention the geographic, cultural, or religious realities that may affect breast-feeding rates in certain states.

Breast-Feeding Rates Around the World

A color image of a map of the world. Clicking on each region brings up a pop-up window with breast-feeding data for that region.

Regions of the world differ dramatically in the rates of breast-feeding, just as rates vary state-by-state in the United States. The highest rates are in eastern and southern Africa, where half of all 6-month-olds are exclusively breast-fed and 91 percent of 12- to 15-month-olds have received breast milk in the past 24 hours. Rates also differ dramatically within regions. For example, Norwegian babies are nearly twice as likely as Italian babies to be breast-fed at 1 year.

Click on each region or country to see breast-feeding rates for that location.

Question

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Your answer might reference how women may be less likely to breast-feed in countries that discourage, or even ban, breast-feeding in public, whereas countries in which women can breast-feed openly and without shame have higher rates of breast-feeding. You could cite paid maternity leave, laws protecting women’s right to breast-feed in public, and workplaces that afford breaks and quiet rooms for women to express milk, enabling mothers to continue breast-feeding after returning to work. You may also mention that hospitals can help boost breast-feeding rates by not offering free formula to new mothers.

Summary

Color image of a Muslim woman wearing a red hijab breast-feeding her baby

Let’s review the main points that were discussed in this activity.

• Breast-feeding rates vary significantly from one U.S. state to another. Currently, the California boasts the highest rate of breast-feeding, although the highest rate of exclusive breast-feeding at 6 months is in Vermont. Conversely, mothers in Louisiana are least likely to have ever breast-fed, and they are least likely to be breast-feeding exclusively at 6 months in Mississippi.

• Breast-feeding rates elsewhere in the world also differ dramatically nation to nation and region to region. The highest rates are in eastern and southern Africa, where almost all 12- to 15-month-olds are still breast-fed. The lowest rates may be in Europe, although they vary dramatically nation to nation.

Color image of woman sitting cross-legged while she breast-feeds her baby.

Congratulations! You have completed this activity.

You have received a provisional score for your essay answers, which have been submitted to your instructor.