Statistical releases on breastfeeding, smoking and obesity
The Department today published the latest quarterly national statistics on breastfeeding initiation and prevalence at 6 to 8 weeks and smoking at delivery.
The Department today published the latest quarterly national statistics on:
- Breastfeeding initiation and prevalence at 6 to 8 weeks - Quarter 1, 2011/12
- Smoking at delivery - Quarter 1, 2011/12
The key points from the latest release are:
The breastfeeding initiation rate was 74.3 in 2011/12 Quarter 1, a slight improvement on 2010/11 outturn (73.7%), 2009/10 outturn (72.7%) and 2008/09 outturn (71.7%).
The prevalence of breastfeeding at 6-8 week in 2011/12 Quarter 1 was 45.6% of all infants due a 6-8 weeks check, largely unchanged from the figure of 45.4% recorded in 2010/11 Q1.
The percentage of mothers smoking at delivery in England was 13.2% in 2011/12 Quarter 1, lower than the 2010/11 outturn (13.5%), 2009/10 outturn (14.1%) and 2008/09 outturn (14.4%).