Trends of US Hospitals Distributing Infant Formula Packs to Breastfeeding Mothers, 2007 to 2013

Abstract

Objective To examine trends in the prevalence of hospitals and birth centers (hereafter, hospitals) distributing infant formula discharge packs to breastfeeding mothers in the United States from 2007 to 2013. Methods The Maternity Practices in Infant Nutrition and Care (mPINC) survey is administered every 2 years to all hospitals with registered maternity beds in the United States. Either a web- or paper-based questionnaire was distributed and completed by the person(s) most knowledgeable about breastfeeding-related hospital practices. We examined the distribution of infant formula discharge packs to breastfeeding mothers from 2007 to 2013 by state and hospital characteristics. Results The percentage of hospitals distributing infant formula discharge packs to breastfeeding mothers was 72.6% in 2007 and 31.6% in 2013, a decrease of 41 percentage points. In 2007, there was only 1 state (Rhode Island) in which <25% of hospitals distributed infant formula discharge packs to breastfeeding mothers, whereas, in 2013, there were 24 such states and territories. Distribution declined across all hospital characteristics examined, including facility type, teaching vs. non-teaching, and size (annual number of births). Conclusions The distribution of infant formula discharge packs to breastfeeding mothers declined markedly from 2007 to 2013. Discontinuing the practice of distributing infant formula discharge packs is a part of optimal, evidence-based maternity care to support mothers who want to breastfeed.

Factors associated with a low prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding during hospital stay in urban and semi-rural areas of southern Vietnam

“…The rate of optimal breastfeeding practices was particularly low in the urban area, with only 9% and < 1% practicing exclusive breastfeeding during hospital stay and when the child was 6 months of age, respectively. This prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding was similar to that described in a cohort study conducted in Hong Kong in 2010 [ 20 ], but was only half the prevalence measured in Taiwan and the USA [ 21 ]. These findings suggest that promoting breastfeeding needs to be tailored to local populations.…”

Factors Associated with Breastfeeding Initiation and Continuation: A Meta-Analysis

“…We also did not examine associations between breastfeeding and formula discharge packs provided to mothers leaving the hospital; this practice was shown in a 2000 Cochrane review to be associated with a reduction in exclusive breastfeeding but had no significant effect on the earlier termination of nonexclusive breastfeeding. 64 Although still relatively common, this practice declined 41% from 2007 to 2013 65 ; further contemporary research is needed to evaluate the effects on breastfeeding initiation and continuation.…”

The mPINC survey: Impacting US maternity care practices

“…Subdomain scores for each area of care also increased across the time period (range: +10 to +29 points). The largest increases were seen in Discharge Care (+29 points), influenced by the decline in distribution of discharge bags containing infant formula (Nelson, Li, & Perrine, 2015), and Labour and Delivery (+26 points), influenced by the increase in skin-to-skin practices (Boundy, Perrine, Barrera, Li, & Hamner, 2018). Aggregate, national mPINC data have been used extensively to describe US maternity care practices and policies.…”

“…Aggregate, national mPINC data have been used extensively to describe US maternity care practices and policies. For example, analyses have examined use of human milk in neonatal intensive care units (Boundy, Perrine, Nelson, & Hamner, 2017; Perrin, 2018; Perrine & Scanlon, 2013), monitored progress towards the implementation of the Ten Steps (Barrera, Nelson, Boundy, & Perrine, 2018; Bartick, Edwards, Walker, & Jenkins, 2010; Beauregard, Nelson, & Hamner, 2018; Boundy et al, 2018; Centers for Disease & Prevention, 2011; Grossniklaus et al, 2017; Nelson, Perrine, Scanlon, & Li, 2016; Perrine et al, 2015) and compliance with the International Code of Marketing of Breast‐milk Substitutes (Nelson et al, 2015), and described employee lactation support services (Allen, Belay, & Perrine, 2014). Further, mPINC data have been used by the United Health Foundation to assess the health of women, infants and children at the state and national level (United Health Foundation, 2016).…”