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Trends in the prevalence of breastfeeding up to 6 months of age using structured data from routine child healthcare visits
Author(s) -
Revheim Ingrid,
Balthasar Melissa R.,
Akerkar Rupali R.,
Stangenes Kristine M.,
Almenning Grethe,
Nygaard Eva,
Markestad Trond,
Øverland Simon,
Roelants Mathieu,
Juliusson Petur B.
Publication year - 2023
Publication title -
acta paediatrica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.772
H-Index - 115
eISSN - 1651-2227
pISSN - 0803-5253
DOI - 10.1111/apa.16367
Subject(s) - breastfeeding , medicine , pediatrics , norwegian , public health , demography , nursing , philosophy , linguistics , sociology
Aim The Norwegian Action Plan for a Healthier Diet (2017–2021) set the target that 25% of infants should be exclusively breastfed for 6 months by 2022. Our aim was to determine trends in the prevalence and duration of breastfeeding in the municipality of Bergen. Methods Data on breastfeeding status in 2010–2018 were extracted from a standardised electronic medical record kept by public child health centres and recorded as exclusive, partial or none, at 6 weeks and 6 months of age. Results We found that 28,503 and 26,735 infants attended the 6‐week and 6‐month consultations, respectively. The prevalence of any breastfeeding was 92.0% at 6 weeks and 78.0% at 6 months with no trend over time between 2010 and 2018. The prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding at 6 weeks was 73.9% and stable over time, but it declined at 6 months, from 28.1% in 2010 to 11.1% in 2014 and remained stable thereafter. Conclusion During 2010–2018, the prevalence of any and exclusive breastfeeding at 6 weeks and any breastfeeding at 6 months was stable. Exclusive breastfeeding at 6 months declined halfway through the study period, to a stable, but low, prevalence of 11.1% by 2014.