Latest annual breastfeeding statistics for Scotland published to coincide with Breastfeeding Awareness Week

The statistics are published today (15 May 2006, 09:30h) by Information Services Division (ISD) NHS National Services Scotland at:

http://www.isdscotland.org/Child_Breastfeeding

Key messages

• Scotland:   The average breastfeeding rate at babies? 6-8 week review increased to 37.7 percent in 2005 from 35.7 percent in 2004.  These figures are based on those NHS Boards participating in the Child Health Surveillance System, covering 84 percent of pre-school children.
• NHS Board comparison: All NHS board areas improved breastfeeding rates during 2005, although breastfeeding rates continue to vary widely between individual NHS Boards.  NHS Forth Valley?s breastfeeding rate showed the greatest improvement, increasing from 30.8 percent in 2004 to 34.0 percent in 2005.  NHS Borders and NHS Lothian have the highest breastfeeding rate at 49.0 percent.  NHS Lanarkshire has the lowest rate at 26.6 percent. 

Footnotes for editors

• These latest annual statistics present breastfeeding rates at the Scotland and local levels and report on progress towards the National target. Information on the age at which children ceased to be breastfed and the effects of deprivation and maternal age are also included http://www.isdscotland.org/Child_Breastfeeding.   This information is updated annually when the latest data are available.
• The National breastfeeding target (set in 1994) states that by the year 2005 more than 50 percent of mothers should still be breastfeeding their babies at 6 weeks of life.  The target was based on information from the UK wide Infant Feeding Survey 1990.  The results of the survey were based on a sample of mothers in Scotland and tend to give a higher breastfeeding rate compared with the Child Health Surveillance dataset, however the trends demonstrated are similar.
• Information produced by NHS Health Scotland about the health benefits of breastfeeding can be found at http://www.hebs.com/readysteadybaby/youandyourbaby/breastfeeding.htm
• For further information on breastfeeding and other data sources see:
  http://www.nhsis.co.uk/breastfeed
• The breastfeeding statistics have been extracted from the Child Health Surveillance Programme: Pre-school (CHSP-PS). The system was introduced in 1991 and the ten NHS boards (excludes Highland, Grampian, Orkney, Shetland and Western Isles) now involved account for approximately 84 percent of Scotland?s pre-school population.
• This is an NHS National Services Scotland Information Services (ISD) National Statistics release. National Statistics are produced to high professional standards and adhere to codes of practice. They undergo regular quality assurance reviews to ensure that they meet customer needs. They are produced free from any political interference.
• ISD collects, collates and maintains a wide range of health service data sets, which form the national corporate database for NHSScotland. By providing information, statistical services and effective use of information management and technology, ISD contributes to health improvement by informing decision making, research and debate within NHSScotland, government departments and other organisations. Information Services is part of NHS National Services Scotland. For more information about ISD go to: http://www.isdscotland.org/isd/

For further information contact:

Judith Tait, Child Health Information Team, Health Care Information Group, ISD
mailto: judith.tait@isd.csa.scot.nhs.uk
phone: 0131 275 6833

Ruth Gordon, Child Health Information Team, Health Care Information Group, ISD
mailto: ruth.gordon@isd.csa.scot.nhs.uk
phone: 0131 275 6335