Breast feeding can play a very important role in the development of strong, healthy children. Many studies over the years have shown that breast milk provides defense against common ailments of childhood such as otitis media, gastrointestinal distress, and atopic diseases (allergies). For these reasons the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends breast feeding for at least the first twelve months of an infant's life. Goals of the Health People 2010 Initiative include that at least 75% of mothers will be breast feeding upon discharge from the hospital and at least 50% will be still nursing at six months post-partum. Currently, about 60% of new mothers initiate breast feeding and about 26% are still breast feeding at six months. However, research has shown that breast feeding trends are below these averages in rural areas of the United States. This may be due in part to lack of breast feeding knowledge and teaching in rural areas. Rural hospitals and birthing centers have not initiated many of the breast feeding promotional programs, such as the Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative and Best Start, that have been successful in improving breast feeding trends in urban areas. Often new mothers who live in rural areas do not have access to a lactation consultant to help them with proper follow up. This paper will examine these concerns and propose recommendations to improve breast feeding in rural areas.
Americas* ; Birthing Centers ; Breast Feeding* ; Breast* ; Child ; Consultants ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hospitals, Rural ; Humans ; Lactation ; Milk, Human ; Mothers ; Nursing ; Otitis Media ; Pediatrics ; United States