Dear Colleagues:
Today, CDC released the 2016 Breastfeeding Report Card, which provides information about our nation's breastfeeding practices and community supports in all U.S. states, the District of Columbia (D.C.), and Puerto Rico.  Among infants born in 2013, about 81% started to breastfeed. High initiation rates, or the percentage of infants who start out breastfeeding, show that most mothers in the U.S. want to breastfeed and are trying to do so.

The Report focuses on two groups of indicators.  One measures the types of support in key community settings and the other measures the most current data on breastfeeding goals as outlined in Healthy People 2020.

Key points in the Breastfeeding Report Card include:

*                      Among infants born in 2013, over half (51.8%) were breastfeeding at 6 months.

*                      Almost one third (30.7%) were breastfeeding at 12 months.

*                      First-time breastfeeding rates from Puerto Rico, with an initiation rate of 83%.

*                      The percent of live births occurring at hospitals designated 'Baby-Friendly' by the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative increased from 7.8% in 2014 to 18.3% in 2016.  This is an encouraging trend in improved maternity care practices.

Thanks to many of you and your hard work, breastfeeding is on the rise in the U.S.  More mothers than ever are starting their babies out with breastmilk, the best source of nutrition for most babies.  In this year's Report Card, you will find there is still work to do to help mothers continue to breastfeed for as long as recommended.  There are many opportunities to work with hospitals, moms at home and in their communities, and after they return to work to provide ongoing support.

We hope the 2016 Breastfeeding Report Card will arm you with the information you need to educate your constituents and stakeholders about this very important issue.  We also hope it will help you target your efforts based on your population's specific needs.

Please find the full Breastfeeding Report Card on CDC's Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity (DNPAO) website. Feel free to share with your colleagues and partners.

Thank you for all you are doing to create a healthier nation!



Ruth Petersen, MD, MPH

Director

Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity

National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

News release is attached.

Summary
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has released the 2016 Breastfeeding Report Card<http://www.cdc.gov/breastfeeding/data/reportcard.htm>. The report card includes two groups of indicators, which measure types of support in key community settings as well as the most current data on breastfeeding goals as outlined in Healthy People 2020<https://www.healthypeople.gov/2020/topics-objectives/topic/maternal-infant-and-child-health/objectives>. Breastfeeding rates come from the National Immunization Survey (NIS) which provides current estimates of vaccination coverage for U.S. children. Since 2001, the NIS has integrated breastfeeding questions which have been used to track breastfeeding in the U.S<http://www.cdc.gov/breastfeeding/data/nis_data/index.htm>.

Web Button
Instructions to partner: Copy and paste the code below onto your webpage to share the Breastfeeding Report Card button.
Language for partner to include on their page if they would like: By clicking on this button, viewers will be sent directly to CDC's Breastfeeding Report Card website.


[Breastfeeding Report Card. Progressing Toward National Breastfeeding Goals. United States, 2016]<https://www.cdc.gov/breastfeeding/data/reportcard.htm>

<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/breastfeeding/data/reportcard.htm" title="Breastfeeding Report Card. Progressing Toward National Breastfeeding Goals. United States, 2016"><img src="https://www.cdc.gov/breastfeeding/images/data/2016-breastfeeding-reportcard_180X220.jpg" alt="Breastfeeding Report Card. Progressing Toward National Breastfeeding Goals. United States, 2016" /></a>


Website
Link to landing page for Breastfeeding Report Card: http://www.cdc.gov/breastfeeding/data/reportcard.htm
Link to DNPAO Feature on Breastfeeding Report Card: http://www.cdc.gov/breastfeeding/data/breastfeeding-report-card-2016.html