Task Force Recommends Primary Care Interventions To Support Breastfeeding

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recently reaffirmed the importance of breastfeeding and recommended that primary care providers offer interventions or referrals to support the practice.

In a statement published online April 8 by the Journal of the American Medical Association, the task force said the health benefits of breastfeeding for both infants and mothers are well established, yet breastfeeding rates in the U.S. are modest, with only about 60% of 6-month-olds being breastfed and only 27% being breastfed exclusively as of 2021.

In Arkansas, only 49% of 6-month-olds were being breastfed and only 24% were being breastfed exclusively as of 2021. Healthy People 2030, a federal initiative that identifies public health priorities, has set a national target of 42% of infants being breastfed exclusively through the age of 6 months by 2030.

The USPSTF said a systematic review of evidence — focused on interventions initiated in, conducted in, or referred from a primary care setting — found that interventions such as offering women breastfeeding education or counseling resulted in significant increases in the prevalence of both any breastfeeding and exclusive breastfeeding. The task force concluded that primary care interventions or referrals to support breastfeeding have a moderate net benefit and gave them a “B” recommendation.

The “B” grade is consistent with a 2016 recommendation on the same topic, although that recommendation did not include referrals.

Under the Affordable Care Act, preventive services — such as breastfeeding education — that receive an “A” or “B” recommendation from the USPSTF must be covered by certain health plans without cost sharing. However, the U.S. Supreme Court is scheduled to hear arguments April 21 in a case challenging the task force’s authority to implement or enforce the Affordable Care Act’s preventive services coverage requirements.

Seeking to promote breastfeeding in Arkansas, the state Legislature last week approved and sent to the governor House Bill 1333 by Rep. Ashley Hudson, which would require all insurance plans offered in the state to cover breastfeeding and lactation counseling, with no cost sharing.

The Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative, a program of the World Health Organization and UNICEF, requires hospitals to teach parents about breastfeeding as one of the criteria for being designated as “baby-friendly.” Nine hospitals in Arkansas have received this designation.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, breastfeeding is the best source of nutrition for most babies. Additional health benefits for infants who breastfeed include protection from some illnesses, strengthened immune systems, and emotional comfort. For mothers, breastfeeding can reduce the risk of breast and ovarian cancer, type 2 diabetes, and high blood pressure.

For more, see our “9 Points on a Healthy Birthing Journey” infographic, which notes the importance of breastfeeding counseling and other supports for women who are pregnant or have recently given birth.