Breastfeeding, which offers benefits for both the baby and the mother, is growing in popularity in the province. But not enough to achieve the targets of the Ministry of Health and Social Services (MSSS), reveals a new study.
Posted at 3:40 p.m.
Insufficient breastfeeding
Breastfeeding is progressing in the province: 29% of babies were exclusively breastfed during their first four months in 2020-2021, compared to only 6% for those born in 1997-1998, reveals a new study from the Institute of Statistics of Quebec (ISQ). However, only half of the babies were exclusively breastfed when they left the hospital. This is a result below the target of 75% set by the MSSS as part of the Baby-Friendly Initiative which recommends exclusive breastfeeding during the first six months of life. Breastfeeding, thanks to breast milk, protects the baby from common illnesses, promotes the bond of attachment and reduces the risk of breast and ovarian cancer in the mother, notes the Ministry on its website.
Less solid foods
The proportion of babies having consumed different foods before the age of 4 months has “significantly decreased” over the decades, underlines the content and publications coordinator at the ISQ’s longitudinal studies department, Amélie Lavoie. Indeed, 58% of babies born in 1997-1998 had received cereals before 4 months, compared to only 6% for those born in 2020-2021. It is generally recommended to introduce complementary foods only around 6 months of age, when babies need more energy and nutrients for development and are physically ready to consume something other than milk.
Half of babies “sleep through the night”
The study also explored babies’ sleep and health. By the age of 5 months, three out of four babies were sleeping between 12 and 16 hours a day, in accordance with the recommendations of the Canadian Pediatric Society. Nearly half of babies this age sleep through the night, meaning they sleep at least six consecutive hours. Quality sleep is essential because it supports the development of children’s mental functions, including memory, language and emotions, and contributes to their learning and overall growth, the study notes.
Health inequalities from birth
The majority of babies participating in the study are judged to be in excellent or very good health by their parents. However, 7% are perceived to be in average, fair or poor health, a higher proportion among babies living in a single-parent family, in a household where the parents were born outside of Canada or in a low-income household . These disparities are partly explained by families’ living conditions such as housing, food security and lifestyle habits, which can have effects on children’s health.
Insufficient hearing screenings
About 6 in 10 babies had a hearing screening test between birth and the time of the survey. Only a very small proportion of them (0.9%) suffered from a hearing problem. According to the Quebec newborn deafness screening program, all babies should be subjected to this test. However, it is not yet offered in all facilities where deliveries take place in Quebec.
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