Breastfeeding Continuity of Care

Breastfeeding plays an important role in reducing infant mortality in low-and middle-income countries, but there is less evidence from high income countries where things like safe water sources and hygiene tend to be less of a concern. In a recent study titled Breastfeeding and Post-perinatal Infant Deaths in the United States, A National Prospective Cohort Analysis published in The Lancet Regional Health - Americas, CDC researchers evaluated whether the benefits of breastfeeding on reducing infant mortality are also evident in the US - a high income country. After analyzing linked birth and death certificates for over 3 million US infants born in 2017 researchers found a 26% reduction in overall infant deaths with the initiation of breastfeeding. This association was evident across most racial/ethnic groups and for certain conditions such as infection, Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, and necrotizing enterocolitis (a serious intestinal infection that primarily affects preterm infants).

These findings support integrating efforts to promote, protect, and support breastfeeding for US infant mortality reduction efforts.