Update of breastfeeding rates in Scotland. Source agency: ISD Scotland (part of NHS National Services Scotland) Designation: National Statistics Language: English Alternative title: Infant feeding statistics

The US Breastfeeding Statistics dataset includes data about Breastfeeding among mothers aged between 15 and 44 in the United States by detailed race and Hispanic origin between 1986 and 2013.

National Family health Survey data representing Indian rural and urban population statewise 2021

Children under age 3 years breastfed within one hour of birth15 (%)

Children under age 6 months exclusively breastfed16 (%)

Children age 6-8 months receiving solid or semi-solid food and breastmilk16 (%)

Breastfeeding children age 6-23 months receiving an adequate diet16, 17 (%)

Non-breastfeeding children age 6-23 months receiving an adequate diet16, 17 (%)

Total children age 6-23 months receiving an adequate diet16, 17 (%)

Children under 5 years who are stunted (height-for-age)18 (%)

The National Community Child Health Database (NCCHD) is a database maintained by Digital Health and Care Wales (DHCW). The data is extracted routinely from local health board held Child Health System databases. From 1st April 2019 health service provision for residents of Bridgend local authority moved from Abertawe Bro Morgannwg to Cwm Taf. For more information see the joint statement from Cwm Taf and Abertawe Bro Morgannwg University Health Boards (see weblinks). The health board names have changed with Cwm Taf University Health Board becoming Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board and Abertawe Bro Morgannwg University Health Board becoming Swansea Bay University Health Board. Breastfeeding data at 10 days, 6 weeks and 6 months is collected through the Healthy Child Wales Programme. The delivery of this programme has been affected by COVID-19 and has resulted in a small increase of missing breastfeeding data in Apr-Jun 2020. The percentage of missing data for the quarter Jul-Sep 2020 is in line with pre-COVID-19 levels. This should be noted when making comparisons between these two quarters. ‘Any breastfeeding’ includes the following categories: Exclusive Milk (Breastfeeding or receiving breast milk by any other means e.g. tube, cup, syringe etc and essential medication), Combined Milk - Partially Breast (75% or less of the feeds in previous 24 hours were breastfeeds), Combined Milk - Predominantly Breast (>75% of the feeds in the previous 24 hours were breastfeeds), Breastfed Unspecified (Baby received breast milk but quantity/frequency was not stated).

While the percentage of infants ever breastfed was high, rates dropped to 58 percent at 6 months. Furthermore, only 1 in 4 infants born in 2017 were exclusively breastfed through 6 months. It is recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics that infants be exclusively breastfed for about the first 6 months with continued breastfeeding whilst introducing complementary foods for at least one year. This statistic shows the percentage of infants born in 2017 in the U.S. who were breastfed for select durations, data from 2018 to 2019.

This statistic displays the percentage of children in the U.S. who were breastfed, by the mother's education level. It was found that over ** percent of college graduated mothers initiated breast feeding, compared to under ** percent of those with less than a high school diploma or GED.

The prevalence of exclusively breastfed infants in India up to the age of five months in 2022 increased compared to 2012, when the share of infants stood at **** percent. Moreover, exclusive breastfeeding refers to feeding an infant with no other food or drink, not even water, except breast milk for the first five to six months of life. This includes expressed milk or milk from a wet nurse.

Number and percentage of women who exclusively breastfed (for at least six months), by age group.

These statistics are derived from two data sources: the Maternity Indicators dataset where a mother’s intention to breastfeed prior to birth is recorded and the National Community Child Health Database (NCCHD) where data for breastfeeding at birth and for babies turning 10 days, 6 weeks and 6 months is recorded and refers to records where there was any breastfeeding. Both data sources are provided to the Welsh Government by Digital Health and Care Wales (DHCW). The Maternity Indicators dataset was established in 2016. It combines records from a mother’s initial assessment with a child’s birth record and enables Welsh Government to monitor its initial set of outcome indicators and performance measures (Maternity Indicators). These were established to measure the effectiveness and quality of Welsh maternity services. The Maternity Indicators dataset allows us to analyse characteristics of the mother’s pregnancy and birth process, of which ‘intention to breastfeed’ is one. The process for producing this data is complex largely because there can be multiple initial assessment data and records for both initial assessments and births are not always complete. The NCCHD was established in 2004 and consists of anonymised records for all children born, resident or treated in Wales and born after 1987. The database brings together data from local Community Child Health System databases which are held by local health boards (LHBs), and its main function is to provide an online record of a child’s health and care from birth to leaving school age. The statistics used in this release are based on the data recorded at birth and shortly after birth. Full details of every data item available on both the Maternity Indicators dataset and National Community Child Health Database are available through the NHS Wales Data Dictionary: http://www.datadictionary.wales.nhs.uk/#!WordDocuments/datasetstructure20.htm

Morocco MA: Exclusive Breastfeeding: % of Children under 6 Months data was reported at 27.800 % in 2011. This records a decrease from the previous number of 31.000 % for 2004. Morocco MA: Exclusive Breastfeeding: % of Children under 6 Months data is updated yearly, averaging 36.700 % from Dec 1987 (Median) to 2011, with 5 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 66.000 % in 1997 and a record low of 27.800 % in 2011. Morocco MA: Exclusive Breastfeeding: % of Children under 6 Months data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Morocco – Table MA.World Bank: Health Statistics. Exclusive breastfeeding refers to the percentage of children less than six months old who are fed breast milk alone (no other liquids) in the past 24 hours.; ; UNICEF, State of the World's Children, Childinfo, and Demographic and Health Surveys.; Weighted average;

This statistic displays the percentage of children in the U.S. who were breastfed, by the mother's age. About ** percent of mothers less than 20 years of age initiated breast feeding, while **** percent of mothers aged 30 years or more initiated breast feeding.

Lebanon LB: Exclusive Breastfeeding: % of Children under 6 Months data was reported at 14.800 % in 2009. This records a decrease from the previous number of 26.600 % for 2000. Lebanon LB: Exclusive Breastfeeding: % of Children under 6 Months data is updated yearly, averaging 20.700 % from Dec 2000 (Median) to 2009, with 2 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 26.600 % in 2000 and a record low of 14.800 % in 2009. Lebanon LB: Exclusive Breastfeeding: % of Children under 6 Months data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Lebanon – Table LB.World Bank: Health Statistics. Exclusive breastfeeding refers to the percentage of children less than six months old who are fed breast milk alone (no other liquids) in the past 24 hours.; ; UNICEF, State of the World's Children, Childinfo, and Demographic and Health Surveys.; Weighted average;

Statistics on Breastfeeding from 2006-2020

The Infant Feeding Survey has been discontinued. Note 1: Since publication, new files have been uploaded for the Summary and Introduction with an updated coversheet only. Figures remain unchanged. Note 2: Following further validation, a couple of changes were needed which meant some findings previously reported in the Infant Feeding Survey 2010: Early Results publication were reported as significant and are now not significant. These related to findings from Tables 4 and 5. These have been corrected in this report, which supersedes those findings from the Early Results. Note 3: An error in the Stage 1 dataset has been identified. Ninety-nine mothers stated that it was their first birth (Q3), that they had a total of 1 child (Q4) but then also selected the option to say that they had a multiple birth (Q5). The Stage 2 and Stage 3 data are unaffected and no figures in the published report or tables are affected. Users analysing the Stage 1 dataset should take this anomaly into account when including multiple births data in Stage 1 in their analysis. Summary: The Infant Feeding Survey (IFS) has been conducted every five years since 1975. The 2010 IFS was the eighth national survey of infant feeding practices to be conducted. The main aim of the survey was to provide estimates on the incidence, prevalence, and duration of breastfeeding and other feeding practices adopted by mothers in the first eight to ten months after their baby was born. The survey is based on an initial representative sample of mothers who were selected from all births registered during August and October 2010 in the UK. Three stages of data collection were conducted with Stage 1 being carried out when babies were around four to ten weeks old, Stage 2 when they were around four to six months old, and Stage 3 when they were around eight to ten months old. A total of 10,768 mothers completed and returned all three questionnaires. A number of new questions were added to the survey in 2010, covering a range of topics including the Healthy Start scheme (a means-tested voucher scheme for pregnant women or mothers with children under 4 years old to help with basic food items), how mothers who had multiple births fed their babies, whether babies were full term or premature, as well as further exploration of the types of problems mothers may have experienced while breastfeeding. In addition to the main findings covered in this summary, the findings of logistic regression analysis to help understand the impact of various demographic characteristics and other factors on breastfeeding initiation and prevalence at two and six weeks (based on full term babies) can be found in the Appendices. Mothers are continuing to breastfeed for longer with initiation and prevalence rates showing increases over the last twenty years in the UK. Breastfeeding initiation was higher for babies exposed to early skin-to-skin contact and among mothers from certain demographic groups. However, the proportion of mothers following current guidelines on exclusively breastfeeding for the first six months of a baby's life have remained low since 2005 with only one in a hundred mothers following these guidelines. In terms of formula feeding, there has been a considerable increase in the proportion of mothers following recommended guidelines on making up feeds. Mothers are also introducing solids later.

The importance of breastfeeding for infant and maternal health is well established. The World Health Organization recommends that all infants be exclusively breastfed until they reach 6 months of age. The standard indicator to measure adherence to this criterion is the percentage of children aged 0–5 months who are currently being exclusively breastfed. This paper proposes supplementary measures that are easily calculated with existing survey data. First, for an accurate assessment of the WHO recommendation, we estimate the percentage of infants who are being exclusively breastfed at the exact age of 6 months. Second, an adjustment is proposed for prelacteal feeding. These two modifications, separately and in combination, are applied to data from 31 low-and middle-income countries that have participated in the Demographic and Health Surveys Program since 2015. There is considerable variation in the effects across countries. The modifications use existing data to provide a more accurate estimate than the standard indicator of the achievement of the exclusive breastfeeding until 6 months recommendation.