Trends in the prevalence of breastfeeding up to 6 months of age using structured data from routine child healthcare visits.

Abstract

The Norwegian Action Plan for a Healthier Diet (2017-2021) set the target that 25% of infants should be exclusively breastfed for 6months by 2022. Our aim was to determine trends in the prevalence and duration of breastfeeding in the municipality of Bergen. Data on breastfeeding status in 2010-2018 were extracted from a standardised electronic medical record kept by public child health centres and recorded as exclusive, partial or none, at 6weeks and 6months of age. We found that 28,503 and 26,735 infants attended the 6-week and 6-month consultations, respectively. The prevalence of any breastfeeding was 92.0% at 6weeks and 78.0% at 6months with no trend over time between 2010 and 2018. The prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding at 6weeks was 73.9% and stable over time, but it declined at 6months, from 28.1% in 2010 to 11.1% in 2014 and remained stable thereafter. During 2010-2018, the prevalence of any and exclusive breastfeeding at 6weeks and any breastfeeding at 6months was stable. Exclusive breastfeeding at 6months declined halfway through the study period, to a stable, but low, prevalence of 11.1% by 2014.