July 30, 2004

BREASTFEEDING IS A CROSS-CULTURE NORM IN HAWAII

HONOLULU – According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS), Hawaii is the only state in which women of all racial populations surpass the national target set by Healthy People 2010, which aims to have 75 percent of moms breastfeed their newborns. The data shows that 91percent of caucasian mothers, 79.8 percent of African American mothers and 89.6 percent of Asian/Pacific Island mothers in Hawaii, start breastfeeding.

“While these numbers are impressive, they only represent mothers that initiated breastfeeding. Recent studies have shown that the number of moms that have continued to breastfeed their babies drops to an average of 53.4 percent after three months,” said Linda Rosen M.D., a pediatrician and Deputy Director of Health. “We want to focus efforts to get moms to continue breastfeeding, exclusively, for six-months. Breast milk really is the perfect food for newborns, since it actually changes to adapt to the changing needs of the infant.”

This year’s theme of "World Breastfeeding Week”, August 1st – 7th is Exclusive Breastfeeding: The Gold Standard- Safe, Sound and Sustainable. The goal is to focus worldwide attention on the importance of exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of an infant’s life. Exclusive breastfeeding means the infant will only receive breast milk and no other food or liquid except vitamins, minerals, or medications.

Globally, only 39% of babies are exclusively breastfed, even in the first 4 months of life. Nationally, less than 10% of infants were exclusively breastfed for 6 months in 1998, according to the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey III.

The 2000-2001 Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS) reported Hawaii as having one of the highest breastfeeding initiation rates of 89.6%, surpassing the Healthy People 2010 target of > 75% of women who initiate breastfeeding. Hawaii statistics also indicated a higher prevalence of breastfeeding initiation associated with higher education level and higher incomes.

The Hawaii State Department of Health’s Women, Infants and Children (WIC) Program encourages new moms to breastfeed. Women participants who exclusively breastfeed are rewarded with a larger food package that also includes special foods like fresh carrots and canned pink salmon. Participating women who meet program criteria for the breastfeeding incentive program may also receive breastfeeding rewards such as a nursing drape and a baby clothes.

Some of the selling point for exclusive breastfeeding:

Health experts assert that babies were born to be breastfed exclusively for the first 6 months of life. After 6 months, continuation of breastfeeding with the addition of complimentary foods is recommended. World Breastfeeding Week will be celebrated in 35 or more Hawaii WIC clinics through individual and/or group education to promote exclusive breastfeeding among WIC participants.

For more information about breastfeeding, visit WABA at www.waba.org.my/ or International Lactation Consultant Association at www.ilca.org. Or for information on breastfeeding support in Hawaii, visit the Breastfeeding Promotion Council of Hawaii website at www.breastfeedinghawaii.org.

For those interested in details about the Hawaii WIC Program, visit our website at www.hawaiiwic.com or call 586-8175 on Oahu or toll free 1-888-820-6425 from the neighbor islands.

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For More Information Contact:

Sue Uyehara
Program Support Section Chief
Hawaii WIC Services Branch
Phone: 586-8006

Laura M. Lott
Department of Health
Information Specialist
Phone: (808) 586-4418
Email: lmlott@mail.health.state.hi.us