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PRESS RELEASE:
Breastfeeding acceptance up for World Breastfeeding Week 2005!
World Breastfeeding Week is August 1-7, 2005
| Boston, Massachusetts – According
to a new survey released today, more Americans in 2005 endorse
breastfeeding, and are comfortable with women breastfeeding
in public, than one year ago. Men in particular are more savvy
about breastfeeding. The National Breastfeeding Awareness
Campaign surveyed almost 1000 people before and after the
Campaign’s 2004 launch, and came up with the following
results:
- 69% of men were comfortable seeing a baby breastfed in
public in 2005, compared to only 59% of men in 2004
- 63% of men said they would be willing to have their own
baby breastfed in public in 2005, compared to just 53% of
men in 2004
- In 2005, 67% of women and 62% of men felt the best way
to feed a baby was to give only breast milk – up from
60% (women) and 50% (men) in 2004
- In 2005, 59% of women and 65% of men agreed that babies
should be breastfed exclusively for the first 6 months,
up from 55% (women) and 53% (men) in 2004.
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The Breastfeeding Center at Boston Medical Center is one of 15
community-based demonstration sites funded by the DHHS Office on
Women’s Health, to support the Campaign, which has received
several awards, most recently from La Leche League International.
The Campaign, with the slogan, Babies Were Born to be Breastfed,
is designed to increase breastfeeding awareness, and to promote
exclusive breastfeeding for six months.
“It seems that the Campaign messages have really gotten out,
and seeing and hearing more about breastfeeding has made it more
acceptable to people everywhere,” said Anne Merewood, Research
Director for the Breastfeeding Center, and a public health researcher
at Boston Medical Center. “It’s interesting that men
have really come on board. Perhaps in the past they’ve thought
this was a women’s ‘thing’ – but Dad’s
support is critical when a mother breastfeeds.”
The Campaign was launched in June 2004, and relied on Ad Council
public service announcements on radio, TV, and in the print media,
to get its message across. The tracking report, based on telephone
interviews across the US, showed that those who had seen at least
one of the Campaign’s TV ads were more likely to agree that
breastfeeding decreased a child’s risk of ear infections,
obesity, respiratory illness, and diarrhea. More results showed:
- 75% of people who had seen the TV ads disagreed that formula
is as good as breast milk, compared to 59% of those who had not
seen the ads
- 59% of women who had seen the TV ads were more likely to be
comfortable breastfeeding in public, compared to 39% of those
who did not see the ads
- 73% of women who had seen the TV ads were more likely to be
comfortable seeing other women breastfeed their babies in public
compared to 55% of those who had not
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to open ad [PDF] in new window
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These results are particularly interesting
in the light of recent controversy over Barbara Walters’
comments about breastfeeding in public on ABC’s TV show,
the View.
Breastfeeding-based events are planned all over the country
during World Breastfeeding Week. Clinicians (doctors, nurses)
and patients – including supportive ‘breastfeeding
Dads’ will also be available to speak to the press at
BMC, during World Breastfeeding Week.
To learn more about World Breastfeeding Week and the National
Breastfeeding Awareness Campaign, visit www.WomensHealth.gov,
rated #1 among all breastfeeding Web sites by the Journal
of Human Lactation, or call the Helpline at 1-800-994-WOMAN
(9662), Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., EDT,
or 617 414 3500. |
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