Post Partum Infant Feeding Habits

Postpartum Infant Feeding Survey, 2002

The SCDHU has completed an Infant Feeding Survey with 500 mothers who gave birth in 2002. Mothers were surveyed at six weeks after their baby's birth, then again at six months after birth. The survey provides up-to-date county level data on infant feeding.

Survey Results

• Two-thirds of women started to plan before pregnancy how they would feed their babies.
• 91% of mothers started out breastfeeding - a significant increase from 75% in 1991.
• 68% of mothers were breastfeeding baby at three months - a substantial increase from 38% in 1991.

Click here for more survey results..

Who was surveyed, and why?

• 500 mothers who gave birth in 2002 and lived in Simcoe County were surveyed about their infant feeding experience. The purpose of the survey was to provide up-to-date, county-level data on infant feeding. This study updates the last available information on local breastfeeding initiation and duration rates (dating from 1991) and provides new data on what influences local breastfeeding initiation and duration, including mothers' infant feeding plans, decisions and practices; family, social and community supports, barriers and services; and the relationship of breastfeeding to other infant feeding experiences and practices.
• One important job of the health unit is to collect accurate community data to improve understanding of local public health status and evaluate community health interventions. This data supports community programs to be more effective in improving the health of infants in Simcoe County.
• This project was made possible by the Simcoe County mothers who agreed to participate and by the support of local agencies committed to providing evidence-based, effective service to Simcoe County residents: Simcoe County hospitals, Midwives Grey-Simcoe, and the Simcoe County Board of Health. Partial funding was provided by the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care. Seven other Ontario health units also collaborated in developing the survey.

How were mothers surveyed?

• Mothers gave their voluntary consent to participate at hospital discharge, during a public health nurse follow-up call, or when asked by their midwife. Mothers were interviewed by telephone in two separate interviews, first at 6 weeks after birth, then again at 6 months after birth.
• The survey was confidential and anonymous. A professional survey company was contracted to conduct the interviews with mothers. This was undertaken in a respectful and confidential manner. The company provided the data results stripped of personal information to the health unit for planning and evaluation use, a procedure which abides by current privacy legislation in force throughout Ontario and represents standard operating practice within the public health research community.
• Mothers who chose not to participate for any reason, who were not Simcoe County residents, who could not speak English, or who did not have a telephone could not be included in the survey.

Are mothers surveyed representative of county mothers as a whole?

• Surveyed mothers provide a good quality, "cross-sectional" sample -- their survey results provide accurate insight about mothers in general in Simcoe County, and to some degree about different subgroups of mothers. Comparisons of different communities within the county are not possible.
• The consent process reached out to all resident mothers giving birth over a defined period in the county. The survey had a good overall response rate in comparison to similar surveys of this nature. The profile of survey participants is similar to best-available comparator community data, suggesting the survey is representative of mothers in Simcoe County -- on the basis of mother's age, education, household income, and prior birth experience (first-time mother or not).
• The survey was conducted by the health unit under the authority of the Health Protection and Promotion Act, Section 5. The data will be used for purposes of program planning and service delivery related to infant and child health only. Questions about the collection and use of this information should be directed to: Bill Hutton, Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit, 15 Sperling Drive, Barrie, Ontario L4M 6K9, (705) 721-7520.

For additional information on the survey, contact:

Peggy Govers, manager Reproductive and Child Health Programs, at
Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit, (705) 721-7520 or 1-877-721-7520

Appreciation is expressed to Simcoe County hospitals for their assistance with this survey.
This project was funded in part by the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long Term Care.