Racial and Geographic Differences in Breastfeeding - United States, 2011-2015

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Pediatrics
• Maternal and Child Health

Background:

• Breastfeeding offers significant health advantages for both infants and mothers.
• Recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatrics emphasize exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months and continued breastfeeding for at least one year.
• Existing national data reveal notable disparities in breastfeeding practices between non-Hispanic black and non-Hispanic white infants in the United States.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze and describe breastfeeding initiation, exclusivity through six months, and duration at 12 months.
• To compare these breastfeeding indicators between non-Hispanic black and non-Hispanic white infants.
• To identify geographic areas with significant racial disparities in breastfeeding.

Main Methods:

• Utilized data from the 2011-2015 National Immunization Survey (NIS).
• Focused on infants born between 2010-2013 in 34 states and the District of Columbia with sufficient sample sizes for comparison.
• Employed statistical analysis to determine significant differences (p<0.05) in breastfeeding rates between racial groups.

Main Results:

• Significantly lower breastfeeding initiation rates were observed in black infants compared to white infants across 23 states.
• In 14 states, primarily in the South and Midwest, the initiation rate difference was at least 15 percentage points.
• Significant disparities of at least 10 percentage points were found for exclusive breastfeeding at six months in 12 states and for breastfeeding at 12 months in 22 states.

Conclusions:

• Despite overall increases in breastfeeding rates over the past decade, persistent racial disparities remain.
• Targeted interventions are necessary to address the specific barriers faced by black women regarding breastfeeding.
• Addressing these disparities is crucial for improving infant and maternal health outcomes across all racial groups.