title: Trends of US hospitals distributing infant formula packs to breastfeeding mothers, 2007 to 2013.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine trends in the prevalence of hospitals and birth centers (hereafter, hospitals) distributing infant formula discharge packs to breastfeeding mothers in the United States from 2007 to 2013.
  
  
  METHODS
  The Maternity Practices in Infant Nutrition and Care survey is administered every 2 years to all hospitals with registered maternity beds in the United States. A Web- or paper-based questionnaire was distributed and completed by the people most knowledgeable about breastfeeding-related hospital practices. We examined the distribution of infant formula discharge packs to breastfeeding mothers from 2007 to 2013 by state and hospital characteristics.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The percentage of hospitals distributing infant formula discharge packs to breastfeeding mothers was 72.6% in 2007 and 31.6% in 2013, a decrease of 41 percentage points. In 2007, there was only 1 state (Rhode Island) in which <25% of hospitals distributed infant formula discharge packs to breastfeeding mothers, whereas in 2013 there were 24 such states and territories. Distribution declined across all hospital characteristics examined, including facility type, teaching versus nonteaching, and size (annual number of births).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The distribution of infant formula discharge packs to breastfeeding mothers declined markedly from 2007 to 2013. Discontinuing the practice of distributing infant formula discharge packs is a part of optimal, evidence-based maternity care to support mothers who want to breastfeed.
authors.affiliation: Epidemic Intelligence Service, Division of Scientific Education and Professional Development, Center for Surveillance, Epidemiology, and Laboratory Services, and Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia jmnelson@cdc.gov.
authors.forename: Jennifer M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Nelson
authors.affiliation: Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia.
authors.forename: Ruowei
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia.
authors.forename: Cria G
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Perrine
mesh_terms: D001942:Breast Feeding; D006761:Hospitals / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D041943:Infant Formula / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D010351:Patient Discharge; D013997:Time Factors; D014481:United States