LIBERTY – The number of mothers in Sullivan County who were exclusively breastfeeding their infants at six months of age last year was almost double the state rate.
The county health department reported on Monday that the 2016 rate for mothers enrolled in the Women, Infants and Children Program (WIC) who exclusively breastfed their babies at six months of age was 18.2 percent compared to the state rate of 10.5 percent.
County Public Health Director Nancy McGraw said breastfeeding is good for both mother and baby and one component of improving the overall health outcomes in Sullivan.
“Rather than looking at the fact that our health outcomes are 61 out of 62 (in the state), we are really drilling down into why that is and looking at different health outcomes specific to mothers and children and chronic disease,” she said. “This is one piece that we have been collaborative on with our many partners and programs over the years.”
McGraw also said breastfeeding initiation among women in the county’s nutrition program for WIC increased from 66.5 percent in 2011 to 80.1 percent in 2016, which is close to achieving the overall state rate of 83.4 percent announced earlier this month.
The improvement represents a 33 percent increase in breastfeeding over five years for Sullivan County mothers enrolled in WIC.
