Georgia PRAMS breastfeeding provider fact sheet [July 2016]

Georgia PRAMS Breastfeeding Provider Fact Sheet

Breastfeeding Initiation and Duration
Breastfeeding is one of the most effective preventive measures to protecting the health of a baby. According to the 2012 National Immunization Survey, 73.7% of Georgia moms initiated breastfeeding but only 18.9% of infants were exclusively breastfeed for six months or longer.1 The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends exclusive breastfeeding for six months, followed by continued breastfeeding as complementary foods are introduced, with continuation of breastfeeding for one year or longer as mutually desired by mom and baby.2
How Can Georgia PRAMS Help Providers?
The Georgia Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS) is a Georgia Department of Public Health surveillance project funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. PRAMS collects state-specific population-based data on maternal knowledge, attitudes, behaviors, and experiences before, during, and shortly after pregnancy. Each month, a random sample of 100-200 mothers is drawn from Georgia birth records. Mothers are contacted by mail or telephone (for non-responders) within two to six months after delivery.
As a provider, you can use PRAMS data to determine who is at highest risk of never breastfeeding their infant, who would benefit most from targeted guidance (e.g., non-Hispanic Black moms, moms under 20 years of age, and moms with no college degree), and reasons for early breastfeeding cessation. Given that August is Breastfeeding Awareness Month, we have provided information on breastfeeding initiation (ever breastfeeding her infant) and duration (mothers with infant six months of age who were still breastfeeding at survey completion) as well as helpful resources.

Race/Ethnicity

Breastfeeding Initiation (n = 1,241,562) and Duration* (n = 156,612) By Maternal Demographics, GA PRAMS 2009-2013

Breastfeeding Initiation

Breastfeeding Duration

NH White NH Black Hispanic NH Other

32.7 21.6
39.0

59.4 56.8

75.3
77.5 84.7

< 20

10.1

20-29

30 +

29.6 41.7

58.4 68.0 82.1

No College College Graduate

27.1
47.4 %

67.6 84.7

Age

Education

*Percent of mothers whose infant was at least 6 months at survey completion and were still breastfed.

2 Peachtree Street, Atlanta, Ga 30303 | dph.ga.gov

July 2016

Georgia PRAMS Breastfeeding Fact Sheet
How Can Healthcare Providers Help?
Engaging in EARLY and FREQUENT conversations about the importance of breastfeeding.
Educate mothers on the benefits to breastfeeding: o Helps uterus contract more quickly after delivery o Helps mother lose pregnancy weight and maintain desired weight o Reduces risk of developing premenopausal breast, ovarian, and endometrial cancer
Take steps to promote, protect, and support breastfeeding in your practice by implementing the Georgia 5-STAR ten steps! o Submit a written breastfeeding policy o Train all health care staff in skills to support successful breastfeeding o Inform/Educate all pregnant women about benefits/management of breastfeeding o Skin-to-skin immediately after birth for one hour or until the first breastfeeding is completed o Show mothers how to breastfeed and how to maintain lactation if they are separated from the infant(s) o No supplemental formula unless medically indicated o Practice rooming-in o Breastfeeding on demand; educating mothers regarding cue-based feeding o No artificial nipples/pacifiers o Breastfeeding support groups and other resources referred at discharge for a focus of exclusive breastfeeding for 6 months
The success rate among mothers who want to breastfeed can be greatly improved through active support from their providers!

References: 1. Nutrition, Physical Activity and Obesity Data, Trends and Maps web site. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention (CDC), National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity and Obesity, Atlanta, GA, 2015. Available at www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/DNPAO/index.html. 2. Eidelman, A. I., Schanler, R. J., Johnston, M., Landers, S., Noble, L., Szucs, K., & Viehmann, L. (2012). Breastfeeding and the use of human milk. Pediatrics, 129(3), e827-e841.
The Georgia PRAMS Breastfeeding Fact Sheet is published as new data become available by the MCH Epidemiology Section, Division of Health Protection, Georgia Department of Public Health. For data requests, please apply through the Public Health Information Portal in Georgia DPH at dph.ga.gov/phip-data-request.

FOR MORE INFORMATION Georgia Department of Public Health Maternal and Child Health Section at 404-657-2850 Email: Florence.Kanu@dph.ga.gov
dph.ga.gov/MCH

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