Data
According to the National Immunization Survey (NIS), 79.5% of Ohio infants born in 2019 were ever breastfed and 23.7% were exclusively breastfed for six months. At 12 months, 32.2% of Ohio infants were breastfed. The Healthy People 2030 Objectives include increasing the proportion of infants exclusively breastfed at six months to 42.4% and increasing the proportion of infants who are breastfed at 12 months to 54.1%. Although the overall rate of breastfeeding has been steadily increasing, there are racial and educational disparities.
Ohio Data
Breastfeeding at Discharge, Ohio, 2015-2021*
*Data includes births that occurred in Ohio including both residents and non-residents. It does not include births to Ohio residents that occurred outside of the state. Percent is calculated by # breastfed/(Births - unknown or missing breastfeeding status)
2015
| Race | Breastfed at Discharge | Exclusively Breastfed at Discharge |
| All Races | 72.6% | N/A |
| White, Non - Hispanic | 74.6% | N/A |
| Black, Non-Hispanic | 61.0% | N/A |
| Hispanic | 73.6% | N/A |
2016
| Race | Breastfed at Discharge | Exclusively Breastfed at Discharge |
| All Races | 73.5% | 52.2% |
| White, Non - Hispanic | 75.2% | 57.0% |
| Black, Non-Hispanic | 63.3% | 35.0% |
| Hispanic | 73.9% | 43.9% |
2017
| Race | Breastfed at Discharge | Exclusively Breastfed at Discharge |
| All Races | 73.5% | 51.0% |
| White, Non - Hispanic | 75.0% | 55.7% |
| Black, Non-Hispanic | 64.6% | 34.6% |
| Hispanic | 74.9% | 44.0% |
2018
| Race | Breastfed at Discharge | Exclusively Breastfed at Discharge |
| All Races | 74.5% | 51.6% |
| White, Non - Hispanic | 75.8% | 56.7% |
| Black, Non-Hispanic | 66.7% | 35.1% |
| Hispanic | 74.9% | 42.3% |
2019
| Race | Breastfed at Discharge | Exclusively Breastfed at Discharge |
| All Races | 74.6% | 51.2% |
| White, Non - Hispanic | 75.8% | 56.3% |
| Black, Non-Hispanic | 67.5% | 35.6% |
| Hispanic | 76.5% | 42.6% |
2020
2021
Ohio Pregnancy Assessment Survey (OPAS)
https://odh.ohio.gov/wps/portal/gov/odh/know-our-programs/ohio-pregnancy-assessment-survey-opas
OPAS is representative of women who gave birth in Ohio. Sampled women are contacted approximately 2-4 months after delivery and can participate by completing a mailed survey, online survey, or telephone survey. Specific populations of interest, such as the nine Ohio Health Equity Institute (OEI) counties, are oversampled to facilitate analysis of Ohio’s initiatives and ongoing program development.
Breastfeeding, OPAS
| Year | Ever Breastfed | Breastfed @ 8 Weeks |
| 2016 | 84.4% | 61.3% |
| 2017 | 86.5% | 64.9% |
| 2018 | 85.8% | 63.1% |
| 2019 | 85.3% | 63.8% |
| 2020 | 85.5% | 63.7% |
Citation: The Ohio Pregnancy Assessment Survey Dashboard. grcapps.osu.edu/opas/. Accessed 2/16/2022
OPAS Dashboard https://grcapps.osu.edu/opas/
National Data
National Immunization Survey (NIS)
https://www.cdc.gov/breastfeeding/data/nis_data/index.htm
The National Immunization Survey (NIS) is administered each year and includes breastfeeding questions. NIS data is used to compile the CDC’s Breastfeeding Report Card.
CDC Breastfeeding Report Card
The CDC Breastfeeding Report Card is released every two years and provides a compilation of data on breastfeeding practices and supports in all states, the District of Columbia (DC), Puerto Rico, Guam, and the US Virgin Islands. https://www.cdc.gov/breastfeeding/data/reportcard.htm