§ Mr. AllenTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of mothers(a) in the Stretley/Broxtowe surestart area and (b) in the UK breastfeed their babies. [7303]
§ Jacqui SmithData collected by the Stretley/Broxtowe sure start programme from local midwifery and health visiting records show that in 1999, 22 per cent. of mothers in Stretley/Broxtowe sure start area breastfed at birth, 10 per cent, at six weeks and four per cent, at four months.
Preliminary results from the first stage of the 2000 infant feeding survey show an increase in the number of mothers in the United Kingdom who initiate breastfeeding. The overall breastfeeding rates rose from 66 per cent, in 1995 to 69 per cent, in 2000. The incidence of breastfeeding in England and Wales increased from 68 per cent, in 1995 to 70 per cent, in 2000. In Scotland 1327W and Northern Ireland the rate increased from 55 per cent, in 1995 to 63 per cent, in 2000, and 45 per cent, in 1995 to 54 per cent, in 2000 respectively. The increase has been particularly marked in low income households in England, where breastfeeding rates increased from 50 per cent, to 62 per cent, of women between 1995 and 2000.