Media Release

For Immediate Release
August 1, 2005
Contact: Erin Dugan, MPH, CLC 401-222-1380/ 401-741-5283

More Men Support Breastfeeding
Survey Shows Increasing Approval Among Both Men and Women

World Breastfeeding Week 2005 is August 1-7, 2005

Providence, Rhode Island – More American men and women support breastfeeding—including breastfeeding in public—even compared to just a year ago. In 2005 a clear majority of men thought breastmilk was the best way to feed babies and felt comfortable seeing a baby breastfed in public. These results came from an Ad Council survey of 1000 people before and after the start of the National Breastfeeding Awareness Campaign Babies Were Born To Be Breastfed. The results were released today.

The Babies Were Born To Be Breastfed campaign promotes exclusive breastfeeding for six months. The RI Department of Health is one of fifteen sites participating in the campaign, which recently received a “Special Service Award” from La Leche League International. In Providence, campaign ads will be posted on billboards and RIPTA buses, aired on several local television stations and displayed in local libraries.

“Our goal is to improve the health of mothers and babies in Rhode Island by increasing support for breastfeeding,” said David Gifford, MD, MPH, Director of the RI Department of Health. “Breastfeeding makes for healthier babies and may help to prevent overweight in adolescence. Increasing support among men plays an important role in a woman’s decision to breastfeed.”

Specific findings of the survey include:

• In 2005, 67% of women and 62% of men felt the best way to feed a baby was to give only breastmilk – up from 60% (women) and 50% (men) in 2004
• In 2005, 59% of women and 65% of men agreed that babies should be breastfed exclusively for the first 6 months, up from 55% (women) and 53% (men) in 2004.
• 69% of men were comfortable seeing a baby breastfed in public in 2005, compared to only 59% of men in 2004
• 63% of men said they would be willing to have their own baby breastfed in public in 2005, compared to 53% of men in 2004

To learn more about World Breastfeeding Week and the National Breastfeeding Awareness Campaign, visit www.WomensHealth.gov. For local breastfeeding information and resources, visit www.health.ri.gov/family/breastfeeding or call the Family Health Information Line at 1-800-942-7434, Monday through Friday, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.