Breastfeeding awareness in KFL&A

Data sources: Rapid Risk Factor Surveillance System (RRFSS), 2008 and 2012

Sample: Residents 18 years and over in the KFL&A area.

Released: July 2016

Breastfeeding for the first six months provides all needed nutrition

Respondents were asked about their viewpoint on whether a baby who is only breastfed for the first six months gets all the food they need for growth.

Figure A. Breastfeeding for the first six months provides all needed nutrition, KFL&A

Figure A. Please see table A below for text representation.

Table A. Breastfeeding for the first six months provides all needed nutrition, KFL&A, % (95% confidence interval)

Year

Yes

Don't know

2008

52.3%

(49.5, 55.1)

24.4%

(21.9, 26.9)

23.3%

(20.9, 25.7)

2012

59.3%

(56.9, 61.7)

25.1%

(22.9, 27.3)

15.6%

(13.7, 17.5)

Total, 2008 & 2012

56.2%

(54.4, 58.0)

24.8%

(23.2, 26.4)

19.0%

(17.5, 20.5)

Interpretation for Figure A

Overall, 56.2% (54.4, 58.0) of KFL&A residents indicated they thought that breast milk is all the food a baby needs for growth for the first six months, 2008 & 2012. More respondents in 2012, 59.3% (56.9, 61.7), than in 2008, 52.3% (49.5, 55.1), indicated they thought that breast milk is all the food a baby needs for growth for the first six months.

Breastfeeding for the first six months provides all needed nutrition, by sex

Respondents were asked about their viewpoint on whether a baby who is only breastfed for the first six months gets all the food they need for growth. Results are shown by sex.

Figure B. Breastfeeding for the first six months provides all needed nutrition, by sex, KFL&A, 2012

Figure B. Please see Table B below for text description.

Table B. Breastfeeding for the first six months provides all needed nutrition, by sex, KFL&A, 2012, % (95% confidence interval)

Sex	Respondents who said Yes
Total, both males and females	59.3% (56.9, 61.7)
Males	57.8% (54.1, 61.5)
Females	60.4% (57.3, 63.5)

Interpretation for Figure B

There was no difference between males and females who thought that breast milk is all the food a baby needs for growth for the first six months.

Breastfeeding for the first six months provides all needed nutrition, by age group

Respondents were asked about their viewpoint on whether a baby who is only breastfed for the first six months gets all the food they need for growth. Results are shown by age group.

Figure C. Breastfeeding for the first six months provides all needed nutrition, by age group, KFL&A, 2012

Figure C. Please see table C below for text representation.

*Use with caution due to high variability.

Table C. Breastfeeding for the first six months provides all needed nutrition, by age group, KFL&A, 2012, % (95% confidence interval)

Age group

Yes

Don't know

Ages 18 to 34

61.0%

(54.7, 67.3)

27.5%

(21.2, 33.8)

11.4%*

(6.2, 16.6)

Ages 35 to 49

61.5%

(58.4, 64.6)

26.0%

(23.0, 29.0)

12.6%

(10.4, 14.8)

Ages 50 years old and up

52.6%

(48.0, 57.2)

21.3%

(17.3, 25.3)

26.2%

(21.9, 30.5)

*Use with caution due to high variability.

Interpretation for Figure C

Respondents, 50+, were more likely to answer "I don't know" when asked if they thought a baby who is only breastfed for the first six months gets all the food they need for growth.

Breastfeeding helps to keep babies from getting sick

Respondents were asked about their viewpoint on whether or not breastfeeding helps to keep babies from getting sick.

Figure D. Breastfeeding helps to keep babies from getting sick, KFL&A

Figure D. Please see table D below for text representation.

Table D. Breastfeeding helps to keep babies from getting sick, KFL&A, % (95% confidence interval)

Year

Yes

Don't know

2008

82.2%

(80.1, 84.3)

8.6%

(6.9, 10.3)

9.2%

(7.5, 10.9)

2012

80.7%

(78.8, 82.6)

10.0%

(8.4, 11.6)

9.3%

(7.8, 10.8)

Total, 2008 and 2012

81.4%

(80.0, 82.8)

9.4%

(8.3, 10.5)

9.2%

(8.0, 10.4)

Interpretation for Figure D

Overall, 81.4% (80.0, 82.8) of KFL&A residents think that breastfeeding helps to keep babies from getting sick, 2008 and 2012. There were no differences over time. There were also no differences between males and females (data not shown).

Breastfeeding helps to keep babies from getting sick, by age group

Respondents were asked about their viewpoint on whether or not breastfeeding helps to keep babies from getting sick. Results are shown by age group.

Figure E. Breastfeeding helps to keep babies from getting sick, KFL&A, 2012

Figure E. Please see table E below for text representation.

*Use with caution due to high variability.

Table E. Breastfeeding helps to keep babies from getting sick, KFL&A, 2012, % (95% confidence interval)

Age group

Yes

Don't know

Ages 18 to 34

78.4%

(73.5, 83.3)

11.6%*

(6.9, 16.3)

10.0%*

(5.3, 14.7)

Ages 35 to 49

82.2%

(79.8, 84.6)

10.2%

(8.0, 12.4)

7.6%

(5.7, 9.5)

Ages 50+

78.8%

(75.3, 82.3)

8.0%

(5.0, 11.0)

13.2%

(9.7, 16.7)

*Use with caution due to high variability.

Interpretation for Figure E

There were no differences by age group for residents who think that breastfeeding helps to keep babies from getting sick.

Breastfeeding is good for the mother's health

Respondents were asked about their viewpoint on whether or not breastfeeding is good for the mother's health.

Figure F. Breastfeeding is good for the mother's health, KFL&A

Figure F. Please see table F below for text representation.

Table F. Breastfeeding is good for the mother's health, KFL&A, % (95% confidence interval)

Year

Yes

Don't know

2008

79.5%

(77.4, 81.6)

4.8%

(3.4, 6.2)

15.7%

(13.6, 17.8)

2012

80.6%

(78.7, 82.5)

4.4%

(3.3, 5.5)

15.0%

(13.2, 16.8)

Total, 2008 & 2012

80.1%

(78.7, 81.5)

4.6%

(3.8, 5.4)

15.3%

(14.0, 16.6)

Interpretation for Figure F

Overall, 80.1% (78.7, 81.5) of KFL&A residents think breastfeeding is good for the mother's health, 2008 and 2012. There were no differences over time.

Breastfeeding is good for the mother's health, by sex

Respondents were asked about their viewpoint on whether or not breastfeeding is good for the mother's health.

Figure G. Breastfeeding is good for the mother's health, by sex, KFL&A

Figure G. Please see table G below for text representation.

Table G. Breastfeeding is good for the mother's health, KFL&A, by sex, % (95% confidence interval)

Sex	Respondents who said Yes
Total, both males and females	80.6% (78.7, 82.5)
Males	75.0% (71.8, 78.2)
Females	84.6% (82.5, 86.7)

Interpretation for Figure G

More females, 84.6% (82.5, 86.7), than males, 75.0% (71.8, 78.2), think breastfeeding is good for the mother's health, 2008 and 2012.

Breastfeeding is good for the mother's health, by age group

Respondents were asked abut their viewpoint on whether or not breastfeeding is good for the mother's health. This question was only asked in 2008.

Figure H. Breastfeeding is good for the mother's health, by age group, KFL&A

Figure H. Please see table H below for text representation.

*Use with caution due to high variability.

Table H. Breastfeeding is good for the mother's health, KFL&A, by age group, % (95% confidence interval)

Age group

Yes

Don't know

Ages 18 to 34

80.1%

(75.3, 84.9)

5.1%*

(1.4, 8.8)

14.8%

(9.4, 20.2)

Ages 35 to 49

81.9%

(79.5, 84.3)

4.0%

(2.5, 5.5)

14.0%

(11.6, 16.4)

Ages 50+

77.5%

(73.9, 81.1)

5.0%*

(2.6, 7.4)

17.5%

(13.8, 21.2)

*Use with caution due to high variability.

Interpretation for Figure H

There are no differences by age group of residents who think breastfeeding is good for the mother's health, 2008.

Campaigns promoting breastfeeding in the community

Figure I. Respondents who have seen campaigns promoting breastfeeding in the community, KFL&A, 2008.

Figure I. Please see table I below for text representation.

Table I. Respondents who have seen campaigns promoting breastfeeding in the community, KFL&A, 2008, % (95% confidence interval)

Sex	Yes	No
Total, both males and females	31.7% (29.1, 34.3)	68.3% (65.8, 70.8)
Males	27.0% (22.9, 31.1)	73.0% (69.3, 76.7)
Females	35.1% (31.6, 38.6)	64.9% (61.6, 68.2)

Interpretation for Figure I

31.7% (29.1, 34.3) of KFL&A residents have seen or heard about campaigns promoting breastfeeding in the community. Significantly more females, 35.1% (31.6, 38.6), than males, 27.0% (22.9, 31.1), have seen or heard about campaigns promoting breastfeeding in the community.

Campaigns promoting breastfeeding in the community, by age group

Figure J. Respondents who have seen campaigns promoting breastfeeding in the community, by age group, KFL&A, 2008

Figure J. Please see table J below for text representation.

Table J. Respondents who have seen campaigns promoting breastfeeding in the community, by age group, KFL&A, 2008, % (95% confidence interval)

Age group	Respondents who said Yes
Ages 18 to 34	26.4% (20.8, 32.0)
Ages 35 to 49	35.3% (31.9, 38.7)
Ages 50 years old and up	27.9% (23.2, 32.6)

Interpretation for Figure J

There are no differences by age group of residents who have seen or heard about campaigns promoting breastfeeding in the community.

Notes

The Random Risk Factor Surveillance System (RRFSS) is a random-digit-dialed telephone survey of adults aged 18 years and older, conducted by the Institute for Social Research at York University, on behalf of KFL&A Public Health.

Confidence intervals explained

Researchers look at the "confidence levels" of percentages being compared to decide if there is a statistically significant difference between percentages. If the 95% confidence intervals of two estimates do not overlap, there is considered to be a significant difference between the estimates. A statistically significant difference means that:

the difference between two percentages is unlikely to have occurred by chance alone, and
there is likely a true difference or change in the percentages.

In this report, 95% confidence intervals will accompany each percentage in all figures and tables. The true or actual percentage falls within the 95% confidence interval range 95 times out of 100. A wide confidence interval reflects a large amount of variability or imprecision. Usually, the larger the sample size, the narrower the confidence intervals. In tables, the 95% confidence intervals will be written with the percentage, followed by the 95% confidence interval range in brackets, e.g., 25.3% (12.3, 32.4). In figures, the 95% confidence interval are represented by error bars at the top of each bar.