California’s In-Hospital Breastfeeding Rate Rises, but Racial, Ethnic Gaps Remain
More than 90% of new California mothers in 2014 tried breastfeeding during their hospital stay, according to new data released by the state Department of Public Health. The data show the rate of in-hospital breastfeeding rose nearly three percentage points between 2010 and 2014. However, racial and ethnic disparities continue. For example,three out of five African-American, Asian, Pacific Islander and Hispanic women exclusively breastfed their newborn while in the hospital, compared with four out of five white women.
- "Most California Mothers Breastfeed Newborns, but Race Gap Persists" (Buck, Sacramento Bee, 11/10).