Increasing breastfeeding initiation has been a national goal since Healthy People targets were first set in 1979. Sensitive methods used to measure incidence of breastfeeding initiation are important in the evaluation of breastfeeding trends. The authors used the statewide electronic birth certificate (EBC) as a surveillance system to measure breastfeeding initiation rates in New Jersey from 1997 to 2000. Overall breastfeeding initiation rates rose over the 4 years surveyed, yet exclusive breastfeeding rates remained stable. Trends demonstrated persistent racial and ethnic disparities in breastfeeding practices. The EBC was a valuable tool for monitoring breastfeeding initiation rates and evaluating the statewide goal of increasing exclusive breastfeeding.
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