Improving Maternal and Infant Nutrition: A Framework for Action

Birth weight of infants born in Scotland is published by the Information ServicesDivision (ISD) Scotland. 63 The proportion of full term infants born in Scotland withlow birth weight has remained at a similar level since 1988 with under 3% having lowbirth weight (below 2,500 grams) and less than 0.05% having very low birth weight(below 1,500g). Around 1% of babies born in Scotland have a very low birth weight,and there is a distinctive deprivation gradient in low birth weight babies in Scotland –with almost three times as many born to mothers from the most deprived areas. 63 Itis possible that the recent increase in levels of obesity in Scotland may be having aneffect on birth weight. However, while data is collected on birth weight in Scotlandthere are no current definitions of ‘high’ birth weight, consequently this is notroutinely published.Breastfeeding3.19 The World Health Organisation (WHO) defines exclusive breastfeeding asgiving no other food or drink – not even water – except breast milk. 64 It doeshowever allow the infant to receive drops and syrups such as vitamin and mineralsupplements and medicines. The Infant Feeding Survey uses this definition to reportdata on exclusive breastfeeding. Mixed breastfeeding is defined as receiving bothbreast milk and formula milk or other milk. 303.20 Breastfeeding data published by ISD Scotland provides only an indicator ofexclusive breastfeeding and does not match the WHO definition. 65 The mother isasked whether the infant is exclusively breastfed, exclusively formula fed or receivingmixed feeding (both breast and formula). In the past there has probably been somevariation in how this question is asked. In order to improve consistency, recentguidance for public health nurses specifies the feeding method recorded on ChildHealth Systems Programme – Pre-School (CHSP-PS) system should relate to thetype of feeding in the last 24 hours.Survey Data3.21 The Infant Feeding Survey is conducted every five years in the UK andassesses the feeding methods of infants from birth to 9-12 months of age. 30 In 2005,the incidence of breastfeeding was 70% in Scotland, with a strong rise since 1990(Figure 1). Other UK countries have also shown increases. Breastfeeding is morecommon in mothers with higher educational levels, those aged 30 or over, first timemothers and those from managerial and professional occupations.