2026 OCAP State of the Child Report

BREASTFEEDING RIVERSIDE COUNTY LAGS BEHIND STATE IN EXCLUSIVE IN HOSPITAL BREASTFEEDING INITIATION BUT COMES CLOSE FOR ANY BREASTFEEDING INITIATION DESCRIPTION OF INDICATOR This indicator draws on two California Department of Public Health (CDPH) data sources to describe breastfeeding prevalence. The In Hospital Newborn Screening Program captures feeding practices during the hospital stay, typically within the first 24 to 48 hours after birth. Their data reports the percentage of birthing people who breastfed in the hospital after delivery. The Maternal Infant Health Assessment (MIHA) is an annual statewide survey of individuals in California who recently had a live birth. MIHA data reports the percentage of birthing people surveyed, who said they were breastfeeding three months after giving birth.

Why is this indicator important?

Findings 1 • Riverside County’s in-hospital breastfeeding initiation has remained strong in recent years, with 92.7% of new mothers initiating some level of breastfeeding in hospital compared to 93.3% statewide in 2022-2024. • Most birthing hospitals in the county report high rates of any breastfeeding at discharge, and several facilities have achieved Baby Friendly designation, including the county’s public hospital Riverside University Health System—Medical Center.

Breastfeeding remains a critical measure of infant health, reflecting both hospital practices and the support families receive in the earliest days of life. Breast milk is widely recognized as the optimal source of nutrition for infants, and breastfeeding strengthens bonding while improving health outcomes. California law requires all maternity hospitals to adopt either the Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative standards or an equivalent set of evidence-based policies. CDPH’s Model Hospital Policy outlines these expectations, including immediate skin-to-skin contact, rooming in, and consistent lactation support. Riverside County hospitals have continued to expand training and align practices with these standards, contributing to stable breastfeeding performance throughout the region.

1 California Department of Public Health. (n.d.). Breastfeeding initiation dashboard. https://go.cdph.ca.gov/Breastfeeding-Initiation-Dashboard

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