Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Factors Influencing Breastfeeding In A Hospital Setting, Mary Smith

Inquiry: The University of Arkansas Undergraduate Research Journal

Breastfeeding is promoted across the globe as the optimum method of infant feeding (World Health Organization, WHO, 2003). Though there is a plethora of published benefits of breastfeeding for baby and mother, breastfeeding rates are below the national goal of 75% for Healthy People 2010 during early postpartum and considerably lower at six months and at one year (Li et al., 2005; HHS, 2000). Arkansas is significantly below the national average and goals, with only 60% of mothers ever breastfeeding versus 74% nationally (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, CDC, 2008). To meet these goals nationally and on a state …