New Jersey’s ranking has increased significantly in the latest results of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s national survey of Maternity Practices in Infant Nutrition and Care (mPINC) assessing infant feeding care processes, policies and expectations of staff in maternity care settings.
The biennial mPINC survey is voluntary. In 2015, 82 percent of all facilities nationally chose to participate, with 83 percent participation in New Jersey, a jump from 60 percent in 2007. All hospitals with maternity services and all freestanding birth centers in the United States and territories are invited to participate.
New Jersey’s ranking in the latest report jumped to 10th nationally from 35th in 2007. In other findings from the survey:
- New Jersey has ranked among the top 10 states nationwide since 2007 for having hospital policies for breastfeeding.
- The state ranks 2nd in the nation for staff training, with 81 percent of birthing facilities having an ideal response.
- Ranked as 4th in the nation for breastfeeding assistance practices, 94 percent of facilities responded with ideal documentation of infant feeding decisions and other items related to staff providing direct assistance and education.
- In Structural and Organizational Aspects of Care Delivery, New Jersey ranks 7th in the nation, with 85 percent of birthing facilities having a policy in place with all the model policy elements, appropriate communication of the policy, documentation of breastfeeding rates, prenatal education and refraining from providing free infant formula.
CDC’s mPINC state reports provide targeted data that helps partners in public health, healthcare professionals and organizations and maternal-child health advocacy groups identify, understand and take action on the practice and policy areas covered in the mPINC survey.
NJHA has been an active advocate, working with the N.J. Department of Health, to promote breastfeeding practices in the state. A webinar on the mPINC survey process presented by Katherin Shealy, MPH, along with other breastfeeding tools and resources is available on NJHA’s Supporting Breastfeeding Moms and Babies web page.
NJHA’s Health Research and Educational Trust is working with 18 birthing hospitals in New Jersey to provide technical support for improving breastfeeding rates. This work is funded by DOH, through the CDC’s DP13-1305 grant “State Public Health Actions to Prevent and Control Diabetes, Heart Disease, Obesity and Associated Risk Factors and Promote School Health.” All hospitals are eligible to participate. Interested maternal child health teams should contact NJHA’s Mary Ditri.
