Li Ruowei, Rock Valerie J, Grummer-Strawn Laurence
National Center for Chronic Diseases Prevention and Health Promotion, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA.
J Am Diet Assoc. 2007 Jan;107(1):122-7. doi: 10.1016/j.jada.2006.10.002.
Data from the HealthStyles survey, an annual national mail survey to US adults, were examined to understand changes in public attitudes toward breastfeeding. The 1999 and 2003 HealthStyles surveys included four breastfeeding items related to public attitudes toward breastfeeding in public and toward differences between infant formula and breastmilk. The percentage of respondents in agreement with the statement, "Infant formula is as good as breastmilk," increased significantly from 14.3% in 1999 to 25.7% in 2003. The increase was particularly large among people of low socioeconomic status. The percentage increase in agreement that "feeding a baby formula instead of breastmilk increases the chances the baby will get sick" grew at a statistically significant level, but the total change was small (2.7 percentage points). No significant total changes were found for the other two survey items. The perception that infant formula is as good as breastmilk would be expected to soften a woman's commitment to breastfeeding should she be faced with obstacles to doing so. The findings underscore the need to educate the general public that breastfeeding is the best method of feeding and nurturing infants. Pediatricians and other health professionals should recommend human milk for all infants for whom breastfeeding is not specifically contraindicated.
为了解公众对母乳喂养态度的变化，我们对“健康生活方式”调查的数据进行了研究。该调查是一项针对美国成年人的年度全国性邮寄调查。1999年和2003年的“健康生活方式”调查包含了四个与公众对公共场所母乳喂养态度以及对婴儿配方奶粉和母乳差异态度相关的母乳喂养项目。同意“婴儿配方奶粉和母乳一样好”这一说法的受访者比例从1999年的14.3%显著增至2003年的25.7%。在社会经济地位较低的人群中，这一增幅尤为显著。同意“用配方奶粉喂养婴儿而非母乳喂养会增加婴儿生病几率”的比例在统计学上有显著增长，但总体变化较小（2.7个百分点）。其他两个调查项目未发现显著的总体变化。如果女性在母乳喂养时遇到障碍，认为婴儿配方奶粉和母乳一样好的观念可能会削弱她坚持母乳喂养的决心。这些研究结果强调了有必要向公众宣传母乳喂养是喂养和养育婴儿的最佳方式。儿科医生和其他健康专业人员应该建议，对于没有母乳喂养明确禁忌的所有婴儿，都应使用母乳。
