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Public Opinions About Breastfeeding

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Key points

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\n Learn about the SummerStyles survey which reports results on public opinions about breastfeeding by year. SummerStyles is a national marketing survey that annually collects health-related opinions of men and women 18 years or older. \n
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SummerStyles survey

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SummerStyles (formerly called HealthStyles) is a private, proprietary national marketing survey. It annually collects health-related opinions of men and women aged 18 years or older. A wide variety of breastfeeding topics have been surveyed over the years, such as:

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  • Public opinions toward breastfeeding policies.
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  • Support for breastfeeding at workplaces.
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  • Beliefs about the benefits of breastfeeding.
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  • Feelings regarding breastfeeding in public.
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Click the year to see the questions and results on public opinions regarding breastfeeding that year.

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SummerStyles surveys by year

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Questions# Analyzed RespondentsAgreeNeither Agree/ DisagreeDisagree
There should be paid maternity leave for workers4,33581.88%14.18%3.94%
I believe people who are breastfeeding should be allowed flexible work schedules to feed their baby or pump breast milk4,33976.61%18.83%4.56%
Women should be encouraged to breastfeed4,33566.92%30.25%2.83%
A mother needs lots of support to breastfeed her baby4,33565.94%26.72%7.35%
Feeding a baby formula instead of breast milk increases the chances the baby will get sick4,33323.43%45.81%30.76%
Infant formula is as good as breast milk4,33526.10%33.13%40.77%
I believe women should have the right to breastfeed in public places4,34273.47%19.30%7.23%
Foods that babies eat influence what they eat as older children4,33756.13%34.11%9.75%
I believe it is acceptable for mothers to feed their baby with breast milk obtained informally from another mother (not including pasteurized breast milk from a milk bank)4,33944.56%42.08%13.36%
Have you ever heard about mothers feeding their babies with breast milk from another mother through an informal arrangement such as an internet exchange (not including pasteurized breast milk from a milk bank)?4,349Responses
Yes 47.86%
No 52.14%
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Questions# Analyzed RespondentsAgreeNeither Agree/ DisagreeDisagree
If a mother breastfeeds her baby, she may be less likely to develop breast cancer later in her life.4,06123.97%66.69%9.34%
If a mother breastfeeds her baby, she may be less likely to develop high blood pressure later in her life.4,06015.56%76.00%8.43%
If a mother breastfeeds her baby, she may be less likely to develop Type 2 diabetes later in her life.4,06015.43%74.36%10.21%
I believe women should have the right to breastfeed in public spaces.4,06369.02%21.60%9.38%
There should be paid maternity leave for workers.4,06877.50%17.47%5.03%
Foods that babies eat influence what they eat as older children.4,06462.00%30.13%7.86%
Baby and toddler foods should not have added sugar.4,06272.97%22.53%4.49%
It is safe for mothers with COVID-19 to breastfeed if they take precautions (wearing mask and washing hands).4,05628.12%52.03%19.85%
Physical activity during pregnancy is safe.4,06180.18%16.55%3.26%
It is safe for a breastfeeding mother to use marijuana regularly.4,0644.69%26.36%68.95%
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Questions# Analyzed RespondentsAgreeNeither Agree/ DisagreeDisagree
I believe women should have the right to breastfeed in public spaces.4,07268.02%21.45%10.53%
Public buildings need to have a room where women could breastfeed and pump milk for their babies.4,07266.94%24.24%8.82%
Feeding a baby formula instead of breast milk increases the chances the baby will get sick.4,06824.05%43.73%32.22%
There should be paid maternity leave for workers.4,05976.75%17.51%5.74%
Foods that babies eat influence what they eat as older children.4,06154.28%33.49%12.23%
Baby and toddler foods should not have added sugar.4,06472.33%21.86%5.81%
If a mother breastfeeds her baby, she may be less likely to develop breast cancer later in her life.4,07125.37%61.98%12.65%
If a mother breastfeeds her baby, she may be less likely to develop high blood pressure later in her life.4,06814.80%72.61%12.59%
I believe it is acceptable for mothers to feed their baby with the breast milk obtained informally from another mother (not including pasteurized breast milk from a milk bank).4,07234.29%44.79%20.92%
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Questions# Analyzed RespondentsResponses
Have you ever heard about mothers feeding their babies with breast milk from another mother through an informal arrangement such as an internet exchange (not including pasteurized breast milk from a milk bank)?4,079Yes 39.74% No 60.26%
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Questions# Analyzed Respondents#AgreeNeither Agree/ DisagreeDisagree
I am comfortable when mothers breastfeed their babies near me in a public place, such as a shopping center, bus station, etc.4,12157.75%23.13%19.12%
I believe women should have the right to breastfeed in public places.4,11763.74%23.03%13.24%
Women should be encouraged to breastfeed.4,11762.91%32.55%4.54%
Public buildings need to have a room where women could breastfeed and pump milk for their babies.4,12057.31%28.88%13.81%
A mother needs lots of support to breastfeed her baby.4,11649.17%35.06%15.77%
I believe employers should provide extended maternity leave to make it easier for mothers to breastfeed.4,12046.67%33.30%20.02%
I would support financial incentives for employers who make special accommodations to make it easier for mothers to breastfeed.4,11541.07%37.84%21.09%
There should be paid maternity leave to workers.4,12269.72%20.45%9.83%
Foods that babies eat influence what they eat as older children.4,11460.91%26.57%12.52%
Baby and toddler foods should not have added sugar.4,11772.04%22.13%5.83%
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Questions# Analyzed RespondentsAgreeNeither Agree/ DisagreeDisagree
Infant formula is as good as breast milk.4,24715.52%26.28%58.21%
I believe employers should provide a private room for breastfeeding mothers to pump their milk at work.4,25156.79%31.00%12.21%
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Questions# Analyzed RespondentsAgreeNeither Agree/ DisagreeDisagree
Feeding a baby formula instead of breast milk increases the chances the baby will get sick.4,00324.58%40.04%35.37%
Breast milk is specially designed to meet a baby\u2019s nutritional needs.4,00980.37%15.84%3.79%
If a child is not breastfed, she/he will be more likely to become overweight.4,00711.06%45.92%43.02%
I believe employers should provide a private room for breastfeeding mothers to pump their milk at work.4,01351.68%31.00%17.32%
There should be laws that protect a mother\u2019s right to pump breast milk while at work.4,00652.42%31.70%15.88%
There should be a federal law providing paid maternity leave to workers.4,01053.74%26.23%20.02%
Infant formula is as good as breast milk.4,01420.20%31.99%47.81%
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Questions# Analyzed RespondentsRespondents
Where have you seen, heard or read anything about breastfeeding recently? Please check all that apply.4,008Percent of those who responded positively \n
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  • TV Program 5.89%
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  • TV Commercial 3.94%
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  • Radio 2.05%
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  • Magazines 4.79%
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  • Newspapers 4.32%
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  • Internet or the web 6.96%
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  • Online blog 1.62%
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  • Billboards or outdoor posters 0.92%
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  • Some other places 3.94%
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  • I have not seen anything recently  79.44%
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Have you seen or heard a campaign entitled \u201cIt\u2019s Only Natural. Mother\u2019s Love. Mother\u2019s Milk\u201d?4,008Responses \n
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  • Yes 3.92%
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  • No 79.82%
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  • Don\u2019t know/not applicable 16.27%
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Questions# Analyzed RespondentsAgreeNeither Agree/ DisagreeDisagree
Feeding a baby formula instead of breast milk increases the chances the baby will get sick.4,15825.66%40.86%33.48%
Breast milk is specially designed to meet a baby\u2019s nutritional needs.4,15282.85%14.31%2.84%
If a child is not breastfed, she/he will be more likely to become overweight.4,15413.00%47.76%39.24%
I believe employers should provide a private room for breastfeeding mothers to pump their milk at work.4,15152.28%29.87%17.85%
There should be laws that protect a mother\u2019s right to pump breast milk while at work.4,15751.91%31.66%16.43%
There should be a federal law providing paid maternity leave to workers.4,15353.94%25.60%20.47%
Infant formula is as good as breast milk.4,14820.08%31.46%48.46%
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Questions# Analyzed RespondentsRespondents
Where have you seen, heard or read anything about breastfeeding recently? Please check all that apply.4,144Percent of those who responded positively \n
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  • TV Program 14.72%
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  • TV Commercial 6.44%
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  • Radio 4.39%
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  • Magazines 13.18%
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  • Newspapers 9.03%
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  • Internet or the web 14.14%
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  • Online blog 2.34%
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  • Billboards or outdoor posters 2.08%
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  • Some other places 4.83%
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  • I have not seen anything recently 61.41%
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Have you seen or heard a campaign entitled \u201cIt\u2019s Only Natural. Mother\u2019s Love. Mother\u2019s Milk\u201d?4,153
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  • Yes 7.44%
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  • No 87.02%
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  • Don\u2019t know/not applicable 5.54%
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Questions# Analyzed RespondentsAgreeNeither Agree/ DisagreeDisagree
I believe employers should provide a private room for breastfeeding mothers to pump their milk at work.4,03456.02%27.8116.16%
Infant formula is as good as breast milk.4,02618.08%24.6457.28%
I believe employers should provide flexible work schedules, such as flexible break times, for breastfeeding mothers.4,03064.39%24.4911.12%
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Questions# Analyzed RespondentsAgreeNeither Agree/ DisagreeDisagree
Feeding a baby formula instead of breast milk increases the chances the baby will get sick.3,98026.37%35.41%38.23%
Infant formula is as good as breast milk.4,00320.53%30.80%48.68%
1-year-old children should not be breastfed by their mother.4,02130.44%35.27%34.29%
A mother who breastfeeds has to give up too many lifestyle habits like favorite foods, cigarette smoking, and drinking alcohol.4,03548.19%21.39%30.42%
I believe women should have the right to breastfeed in public places.4,10958.64%23.42%17.94%
Public buildings need to have a room where women could breastfeed and pump milk for their babies.4,08255.18%29.62%15.20%
I believe employers should provide flexible work schedules, such as additional break time, for breastfeeding mothers.4,09943.79%33.14%23.07%
I believe employers should provide extended maternity leave to make it easier for mothers to breastfeed.4,07136.16%35.88%27.96%
I believe employers should provide a private room for breastfeeding mothers to pump their milk at work.4,08745.13%30.43%24.44%
There should be a federal law providing paid maternity leave to workers.4,08746.08%30.40%23.52%
It is embarrassing for a mother to breastfeed in front of others.4,07032.08%35.71%32.20%
Breastfeeding is healthier for babies than formula feeding.4,07972.88%21.97%5.14%
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Highlighted publications using SummerStyles Breastfeeding data

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Marks KJ, Grap ME, Chen J, Shi DS, Li R. High and Increased Positive Public Opinions About Supports for Breastfeeding, United States, 2015-2024. Public Health Reports\u00ae. 2026;0(0).

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Boundy EO, Nelson JM, Li R. Public Belief in the Maternal Health Benefits of Breastfeeding \u2014 United States, 2018 and 2021. Prev Chronic Dis 2023;20:230010.

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Nelson JM, Li R, Perrine CG, Scanlon KS. Public Opinions About Infant Feeding in the United States. Birth. 2016 Dec;43(4):313-319.

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\n National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (NCCDPHP) \n
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Syndicated Content Details:
Source URL: http://www.cdc.gov/breastfeeding/data/healthstyles_survey/survey_2013.htm
Source Agency: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Captured Date: 2016-05-23 22:35:44.0
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