Y Na | PubMed Health

PubMed1998

Breast-feeding initiation in New York City, 1979 to 1996.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to explore changes in breast-feeding initiation from 1979 to 1996 among infants born in New York City hospitals. METHODS: All New York City hospitals were surveyed every 2 years. Hospital staff reported feeding method at newborn discharge. RESULTS: New York City breast-feeding initiation rates increased consistently from 1979 to 1996 (from 29% to 58%, P < .0001), including 1984 to 1990, when rates decreased nationally. CONCLUSIONS: A 1984 New York State regulation requiring each hospital to designate a lactation coordinator may have been associated with the continuing increases in breast-feeding initiation.

Breast Feeding↗

PubMed1998

Decrease in infant mortality in New York City after 1989.

OBJECTIVES: This study identified factors contributing to the rapid decline in infant mortality in New York City from 1989 to 1992. METHODS: Changes in birthweight distributions and in birthweight/age-, cause-, and birthweight/age/cause-specific mortality rates from 1988/89 (before the mortality reduction) to 1990/91 were identified from New York City vital statistics data. RESULTS: Infant, neonatal, and postneonatal mortality of very-low-birthweight (< 1500 g) and normal-birthweight infants decreased significantly. The declines were almost entirely due to decreases in birthweight-specific mortality rates, rather than increased birthweights. All races experienced most of these reductions. Mortality decreased significantly for 6 causes of death. These decreases were consistent with the birthweight/age groups experiencing mortality declines. CONCLUSIONS: Widespread, multiple perinatal and postnatal factors contributed to the decline in infant mortality.

Birth Weight↗