Breastfeeding Benefits & Barriers: Breastfeeding Statistics in the United States

The Surgeon General's Goal for Healthy People 2010 is that:

• 75% of women breastfeed their infants at hospital discharge,
• 50% breastfeed their infants at 6 months of age, and
• 25% breastfeed their infants at 12 months (1 year) of age.

In 2001, under the direction of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the National Immunization Survey (NIS) began collecting data on breastfeeding as part of the annual NIS. Data from recall of breastfeeding history was obtained from a subset of infants 19-35 months of age at the time of the survey. The analysis of the survey results is weighted to represent the US population. Breastfeeding questions included: Was the child ever breastfed? How many months was the the child exclusively breastfed up to 6 months of age? How many months was the child receiving any breast milk up to 12 months of age?

Nationwide in 2008, of the infants who were now 19-35 months of age,

• 74% were breastfed at birth,
• 43% were breastfed at 6 months,
• 21% were breastfed at 12 months,
• 32% were exclusively breastfed at 3 months,and
• 12% were exclusively breastfed at 6 months.

NIS results:

• 23 states have greater than 75% of women breastfeeding at hospital discharge.
• 10 states have greater than 50% of their infants being breastfed at 6 months of age.
• 12 states have greater than 25% of their infants being breastfed at 1 year of age.
• 10 states have greater than 40% of their infants being exclusively breastfed through 3 months of age.
• 8 states have greater than 17% of their infants being exclusively breastfed through 6 months of age.
• The 8 states of Alaska, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Oregon, Utah, Vermont, and Washington have achieved the three Healthy People 2010 objectives above. More than 60% of mothers of all racial/ethnic groups and of all education levels are initiating breastfeeding. Only teenagers with 51% initiating breastfeeding are less than the 60% initiation rate.

To see how your state ranks in breastfeeding and for further information on the socio-demographic factors associated with breastfeeding, visit the CDC website ( CDC, Breastfeeding Report Card/NIS Data, 2008 ).