|
|
Breastfeeding Practices:
Results from the 2003 National Immunization Survey
Each year since 1994, the CDC National Immunization Program, in
partnership with CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics, has
conducted the National Immunization Survey (NIS) within all 50 states,
District of Columbia, and selected geographic areas within the states.
This nationwide survey provides the nation’s public health community with
current national, state, and selected urban-area estimates of vaccination
coverage rates for U.S. children aged 19 to 35 months.
In 2001, at the request of a CDC expert advisory panel, the National
Immunization Survey piloted breastfeeding questions to about 13% of
respondents. Since January 2003, these breastfeeding questions have been
asked of all survey respondents to assess the population’s breastfeeding
practices. As a result, the 2003 NIS results not only provide overall
population estimates for the initiation, duration, and exclusivity of
breastfeeding, but also provide geographically-specific breastfeeding
rates.
Key findings of the 2003 National Immunization Survey Regarding
Breastfeeding Practices:
- Fourteen states in the United States have achieved the national Healthy People
2010 objective of 75% of mothers initiating breastfeeding; whereas
only 6 and 8 states have achieved the objective of having 50% of mothers
breastfeeding their children at 6 months of age and 25% of mothers
breastfeeding their children at 12 months of age, respectively.
- The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that an infant
be breastfed without supplemental foods and liquids for the first 6
months of age (known as exclusive breastfeeding). However, only Oregon
has achieved an exclusive breastfeeding rate above 25% at 6 months.
- Six states have achieved all of the
Healthy
People 2010 objectives on breastfeeding. These states are Hawaii,
Idaho, Oregon, Utah, Vermont, and Washington.
- Consistent with previous research, the NIS breastfeeding data reveal
that non-Hispanic blacks and socioeconomically disadvantaged groups have
consistently lower breastfeeding rates.
Detailed information about the National Immunization Survey is available
at
http://www.cdc.gov/nip/coverage/default.htm#NIS.
|
NIS Survey Methods
The National Immunization Survey uses random-digit dialing to survey
households with age-eligible children, followed by a mail survey to the
eligible children’s vaccination providers to validate the vaccination
information. The household telephone survey asks questions about childhood
immunization for children aged 19–35 months of age and requests parental
permission for contacting children’s vaccination providers. The mail
survey of vaccination providers asks the types of immunizations, dates of
administration, and additional data about facility characteristics.
Additionally, beginning January 2003, all respondents to the household
telephone survey were asked questions about breastfeeding.
Selecting the NIS Study Population
The NIS covers all 50 states, District of Columbia, and selected
geographic areas within states. Using a computer generated list across the
county, the NIS identifies households with children aged 19–35 months old and
interviews the person who is most knowledgeable about the child’s
immunization status. Each year, approximately 35,600 completed phone
interviews are obtained nationally in the NIS.
Data Reports Available
The vaccination coverage data are released in the Morbidity and Mortality
Weekly Report. Preliminary breastfeeding data were published in Pediatrics
2003;111:1198-1201. Breastfeeding data from the 2003 NIS are now available
by geographic area and by socio-demographic characteristics.
Tables
Maps of Breastfeeding Rates by State
|