Description - Figure 1 - Breastfeeding initiation by income and education, Canada, 2009-2010

This bar graph shows the percentage of mothers who initiated breastfeeding by income and education for the data collection period 2009-2010 of the Canadian Community Health Survey.
It is based on information provided by females aged 15 to 55 who had a baby in the last 5 years. Breastfeeding initiation refers to mothers who breastfed or tried to breastfeed their last child even if only for a short time.

In Canada overall, 87.3 percent of mothers initiated breastfeeding.
In the lowest income quintile, quintile 1, 81.0 percent of mothers initiated breastfeeding.
In quintile 2, 88.7 percent of mothers initiated breastfeeding.
In quintile 3, 88.4 percent of mothers initiated breastfeeding.
In quintile 4, 90.2 percent of mothers initiated breastfeeding.
In the highest income quintile, quintile 5, 92.6 percent of mothers initiated breastfeeding.
Among those with less than secondary graduation, 76.5 percent of mothers initiated breastfeeding.
Among those with secondary graduation, 81.9 percent of mothers initiated breastfeeding.
Among those with some post-secondary education, 81.4 percent of mothers initiated breastfeeding.
Among those with post-secondary graduation, 90.5 percent of mothers initiated breastfeeding.