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Breastfeeding practices, females aged 15 to 55 who had a baby in the previous five years, Canada, provinces, territories and peer groups, 2003

Breastfeeding practices                      Did not breastfeed Initiated breastfeeding Breastfed at least four months Breastfed at least four months exclusively Breastfed at least six months Breastfed at least six months exclusively
Canada  
Percent 15.2 84.5 48.3 38.4 38.7 18.7
Coefficient of variation 4.2 0.8 1.9 2.3 2.3 3.9
Newfoundland and Labrador  
Percent 37.0 62.7 34.3 30.3 27.5 E 11.1 E
Coefficient of variation 10.5 6.2 12.9 13.8 16.6 E 24.4 E
Prince Edward Island  
Percent 23.3 E 76.7 46.4 34.9 39.3 15.3 E
Coefficient of variation 18.1 E 5.5 11.6 15.6 13.9 26.2 E
Nova Scotia  
Percent 23.4 76.4 38.3 24.1 30.8 12.4 E
Coefficient of variation 14.5 4.5 10.7 15.2 12.2 20.9 E
New Brunswick  
Percent 36.1 63.9 25.7 23.0 16.6 E 9.7 E
Coefficient of variation 10.2 5.7 12.6 14.5 17.1 E 24.8 E
Quebec  
Percent 23.6 76.1 37.9 27.1 29.3 10.4
Coefficient of variation 7.5 2.3 5.9 7.4 7.6 12.3
Ontario  
Percent 12.9 86.9 49.0 41.7 39.4 20.2
Coefficient of variation 7.5 1.1 3.2 3.7 3.8 6.3
Manitoba  
Percent 11.3 88.6 51.7 46.5 36.6 24.2 E
Coefficient of variation 16.3 2.1 7.4 8.7 10.4 16.8 E
Saskatchewan  
Percent 12.6 86.2 51.8 38.8 41.4 19.3
Coefficient of variation 16.5 2.6 5.9 7.5 6.8 11.4
Alberta  
Percent 8.9 E 90.5 57.9 41.9 47.2 22.0
Coefficient of variation 21.7 E 2.2 4.7 6.3 6.1 9.4
British Columbia  
Percent 6.4 E 93.3 63.8 50.7 55.0 28.8
Coefficient of variation 18.0 E 1.3 4.0 5.1 4.4 8.0
Yukon Territory  
Percent F 88.0 65.3 E 36.6 E 58.2 E F
Coefficient of variation F 10.8 20.9 E 28.3 E 23.1 E F
Northwest Territories  
Percent 26.7 E 73.3 51.7 E 43.0 E 34.8 E 21.6 E
Coefficient of variation 31.3 E 11.4 17.4 E 23.1 E 22.1 E 32.4 E
Nunavut  
Percent 26.6 E 73.4 41.2 32.7 E 29.0 E F
Coefficient of variation 30.6 E 11.1 10.8 18.3 E 21.2 E F
Peer group A  
Percent 16.3 83.2 47.3 37.5 37.9 17.7
Coefficient of variation 7.3 1.5 3.5 4.6 4.3 7.9
Peer group B  
Percent 9.3 90.3 54.3 43.6 44.7 21.7
Coefficient of variation 11.9 1.2 3.2 3.9 3.8 6.7
Peer group C  
Percent 22.5 77.4 36.0 30.1 28.0 13.2
Coefficient of variation 8.1 2.3 5.6 6.2 6.9 10.7
Peer group D  
Percent 10.4 89.6 59.5 43.7 45.4 19.8
Coefficient of variation 16.1 1.9 5.4 8.2 7.3 13.6
Peer group E  
Percent 17.5 82.4 43.2 32.0 34.2 15.2
Coefficient of variation 7.5 1.6 4.1 4.9 4.7 7.8
Peer group F  
Percent 23.9 E 76.1 38.1 34.1 26.9 19.2 E
Coefficient of variation 17.5 E 5.5 10.9 12.4 14.5 19.8 E
Peer group G  
Percent 14.0 85.7 53.4 42.5 42.6 22.1
Coefficient of variation 15.9 2.6 6.5 7.8 8.2 12.2
Peer group H  
Percent 17.6 82.4 48.4 39.8 37.8 20.5
Coefficient of variation 13.5 2.9 6.6 8.0 7.9 13.2
Peer group I  
Percent 42.2 57.9 28.0 24.7 20.6 9.3 E
Coefficient of variation 8.8 6.4 13.1 13.6 16.1 24.0 E
1. Data source: Statistics Canada, Canadian Community Health Survey, 2003
2. Based on information provided by females aged 15 to 55 who had a baby in the previous five years.
3. Analysis excludes non-response ("don't know", "not stated" and "refusal").
4. For the percentage of mothers who initiated breastfeeding and the percentage of mothers who did not breastfeed, the denominator is females aged 15 to 55 who had a baby in the previous five years.
5. Initiated breastfeeding refers to mothers who breastfed or tried to breastfeed their last child even if only for a short time.
6. For the duration and exclusivity of breastfeeding, the denominator is females aged 15 to 55 who had a baby in the previous five years, excluding mothers who were still breastfeeding.
7. Exclusive breastfeeding refers to an infant receiving only breast milk, without any additional liquid (even water) or solid food.
8. Bootstrapping techniques were used to produce the coefficient of variation (CV) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs).
9. Data with a coefficient of variation (CV) from 16.6% to 33.3% are identified by an (E) and should be interpreted with caution.
10. Data with a coefficient of variation (CV) greater than 33.3% were suppressed (F) due to extreme sampling variability.
11. A "peer group" is a grouping of health regions that have similar social and economic characteristics. The nine peer groups are identified by the letters A through I.
11. CANSIM table number 01050244.