Vitamin D Supplementation of Breastfed Infants in Canada: Key Statistics and Graphics (2009-2010)

The 2009-2010  Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS) asked women who had given birth in the last 5 years whether they provided a supplement containing vitamin D during the time their infant was fed only breast milk.

Key statistics and graphics on the vitamin D supplementation of breastfed infants in Canada from the CCHS 2009-2010 are presented below.Footnote 1 In the descriptions below, a difference between two estimates is considered statistically significant when the 95% confidence intervals do not overlap.

Vitamin D Supplementation of Breastfed Infants

Vitamin D supplementation refers to the recommended practice of providing breastfed infants with a supplement containing vitamin D. Although it is recommended that all breastfed infants receive a supplement containing vitamin D, the CCHS 2009-2010 collected data on vitamin D supplementation only when a baby was fed only breast milk (the results of which are presented below). The frequency or regularity with which the supplement was given is not known. The question on vitamin D supplementation was asked of mothers between the ages of 15 and 55 who had given birth in the last 5 years.

Vitamin D supplementation in 2009-2010

  • Supplements containing vitamin D were provided to 74.1% of infants fed only breast milk.
  • The percentage of mothers who provided vitamin D supplementation when their child was fed only breast milk increased significantly with every CCHS cycle. It rose from 52.8% in 2003 to 74.1% in 2009-2010.

Vitamin D supplementation of infants fed only breast milk by selected socio-demographic characteristics

The percentage of mothers who provided a vitamin D supplement when their child was fed only breast milk varied by selected socio-demographic characteristics.

Household income

  • Significantly fewer mothers in the lowest (67.3%) and second income quintile (73.0%) gave a vitamin D supplement than did mothers in the highest income quintile (83.0%).Footnote 2

Highest level of education attained

  • Significantly fewer mothers with less than a secondary education (63.7%) or with secondary graduation (65.1%) gave a vitamin D supplement than did mothers who were post-secondary graduates (77.5%).

Percentage of breastfeeding mothers who provided a supplement containing vitamin D by income and education, Canada, 2009-2010

This bar graph shows the percentage of breastfeeding mothers who provided a supplement containing vitamin D to their last baby 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. Mothers were asked if they gave their baby a vitamin supplement containing vitamin D when their last baby was fed only breast milk.

In Canada overall, 74.1 percent of exclusively breastfeeding mothers provided a supplement containing vitamin D.
In quintile 1,the lowest income quintile, 67.3 percent of exclusively breastfeeding mothers provided a supplement containing vitamin D.
In income quintile 2, 73.0 percent of exclusively breastfeeding mothers provided a supplement containing vitamin D.
In income quintile 3, 77.9 percent of exclusively breastfeeding mothers provided a supplement containing vitamin D.
In income quintile 4, 77.5 percent of exclusively breastfeeding mothers provided a supplement containing vitamin D.
In income quintile 5, 83.0 percent of exclusively breastfeeding mothers provided a supplement containing vitamin D.
Among those with less than secondary graduation, 63.7 percent of exclusively breastfeeding mothers provided a supplement containing vitamin D.
Among those with secondary graduation, 65.1 percent of exclusively breastfeeding mothers provided a supplement containing vitamin D.
Among those with some post-secondary education, 71.6 percent of exclusively breastfeeding mothers provided a supplement containing vitamin D.
Among those with post-secondary graduation, 77.5 percent of exclusively breastfeeding mothers provided a supplement containing vitamin D.

Percentage of breastfeeding mothers who provided a supplement containing vitamin D by income and education, Canada, 2009-2010

Based on information provided by females aged 15 to 55 who had a baby in the last 5 years. Mothers were asked if they gave their baby a vitamin supplement containing vitamin D when their last baby was fed only breast milk.

Source: Health Canada
Data Source: Statistics Canada, Canadian Community Health Survey, 2009-2010

Cultural/racial background

  • Significantly fewer Black mothers (57.5%) than White mothers (75.9%) gave a vitamin D supplement to their infant fed only breast milk.Footnote 3, Footnote 4

Aboriginal status

  • The percentage of off-reserve Aboriginal mothersFootnote 5 (72.9%) and non-Aboriginal mothers (74.5%) who gave a vitamin D supplement to their infant fed only breast milk was similar.

Immigrant status

  • The percentage of non-immigrant, non-recent and recent immigrant mothers who gave a vitamin D supplement to their infant fed only breast milk was similar.Footnote 6

Percentage of breastfeeding mothers who provided a supplement containing vitamin D by cultural/racial background, Aboriginal status and immigrant status, Canada, 2009-2010

This bar graph shows the percentage of breastfeeding mothers who provided a supplement containing vitamin D to their last baby by cultural/racial background, Aboriginal status and immigrant status 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. Mothers were asked if they gave their baby a vitamin supplement containing vitamin D when their last baby was fed only breast milk.

In Canada overall, 74.1 percent of exclusively breastfeeding mothers provided a supplement containing vitamin D.
Among those with Asian cultural/racial background, 73.7 percent of exclusively breastfeeding mothers provided a supplement containing vitamin D.
Among those with Black cultural/racial background, 57.5 percent of exclusively breastfeeding mothers provided a supplement containing vitamin D.
Among those with White cultural/racial background, 75.9 percent of exclusively breastfeeding mothers provided a supplement containing vitamin D.
Among those with Other cultural/racial background, 76.4 percent of exclusively breastfeeding mothers provided a supplement containing vitamin D.
Among Aboriginals, 72.9 percent of exclusively breastfeeding mothers provided a supplement containing vitamin D.
Among Non-Aboriginals, 74.5 percent of exclusively breastfeeding mothers provided a supplement containing vitamin D.
Among non-immigrant exclusively breastfeeding mothers, 75.6 percent provided a supplement containing vitamin D.
Among non-recent, greater than or equal to five years, exclusively breastfeeding immigrant mothers, 73.5 percent provided a supplement containing vitamin D.
Among recent, less than 5 years, exclusively breastfeeding immigrant mothers, 66.4 percent provided a supplement containing vitamin D.

Percentage of breastfeeding mothers who provided a supplement containing vitamin D by cultural/racial background, Aboriginal status and immigrant status, Canada, 2009-2010

Based on information provided by females aged 15 to 55 who had a baby in the last 5 years. Mothers were asked if they gave their baby a vitamin supplement containing vitamin D when their last baby was fed only breast milk.

Source: Health Canada
Data Source: Statistics Canada, Canadian Community Health Survey, 2009-2010

Mother's Age

  • The percentage of mothers who gave a vitamin D supplement to their infant fed only breast milk was similar across mother's age groups.

Marital status

  • Significantly more married/common-law mothers (75.4%) gave a vitamin D supplement to their infant fed only breast milk than single/divorced/separated/widowed mothers (65.8%).

Area of residence

  • The percentage of mothers who gave a vitamin D supplement to their infant fed only breast milk was similar between urban and rural areas of residence.Footnote 7

Percentage of breastfeeding mothers who provided a supplement containing vitamin D by age, marital status and area of residence, Canada, 2009-2010

This bar graph shows the percentage of breastfeeding mothers who provided a supplement containing vitamin D to their last baby by age, marital status and area of residence 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. Mothers were asked if they gave their baby a vitamin supplement containing vitamin D when their last baby was fed only breast milk.

In Canada overall, 74.1 percent of exclusively breastfeeding mothers provided a supplement containing vitamin D.
Among women aged 15 to 24, 67.0 percent of exclusively breastfeeding mothers provided a supplement containing vitamin D.
Among women aged 25 to 34, 74.1 percent of exclusively breastfeeding mothers provided a supplement containing vitamin D.
Among women aged 35 to 55, 75.9 percent of exclusively breastfeeding mothers provided a supplement containing vitamin D.
Among married or common-law women, 75.4 percent of exclusively breastfeeding mothers provided a supplement containing vitamin D.
Among widowed, separated, divorced or single women, 65.8 percent of exclusively breastfeeding mothers provided a supplement containing vitamin D.
Among women residing in an urban area, 74.6 percent of exclusively breastfeeding mothers provided a supplement containing vitamin D.
Among women residing in a rural area, 71.6 percent of exclusively breastfeeding mothers provided a supplement containing vitamin D.

Percentage of breastfeeding mothers who provided a supplement containing vitamin D by age, marital status and area of residence, Canada, 2009-2010

Based on information provided by females aged 15 to 55 who had a baby in the last 5 years. Mothers were asked if they gave their baby a vitamin supplement containing vitamin D when their last baby was fed only breast milk.

Source: Health Canada
Data Source: Statistics Canada, Canadian Community Health Survey, 2009-2010

Vitamin D supplementation of infants fed only breast milk by region

In 2009-2010, the percentage of mothers who gave a vitamin D supplement to their infant fed only breast milk in Ontario was significantly lower than the national average. The percentage of mothers providing a vitamin D supplement was significantly higher than the national average in the Prairies.

Percentage of breastfeeding mothers who gave a supplement containing Vitamin D by region, Canada, 2009-2010

This map of Canada shows the percentage of breastfeeding mothers who gave a supplement containing vitamin D to their last baby in six Canadian regions for the data collection period 2009-2010 of the Canadian Community Health Survey. It also shows whether the percentage of mothers who gave a supplement containing vitamin D in each region was significantly below the Canadian average, near the Canadian average or significantly above the Canadian average. It is based on information provided by females aged 15 to 55 who had a baby in the last 5 years. Mothers were asked if they gave their baby a vitamin supplement containing vitamin D when their last baby was fed only breast milk.

In Canada overall, 74.1 percent of exclusively breastfeeding mothers provided a supplement containing vitamin D.
In British-Columbia, 76.1 percent of exclusively breastfeeding mothers provided a supplement containing vitamin D. The percentage of breastfeeding mothers who gave a supplement containing vitamin D to their baby in British-Columbia is near the Canadian average.
In the Prairie region, which includes Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba, 82.8 percent of breastfeeding mothers provided a supplement containing vitamin D. The percentage of breastfeeding mothers who gave a supplement containing vitamin D to their baby in the Prairie region is above the Canadian average.
In Ontario, 68.9 percent of exclusively breastfeeding mothers provided a supplement containing vitamin D. The percentage of breastfeeding mothers who gave a supplement containing vitamin D to their baby in Ontario is below the Canadian average.
In Quebec, 74.5 percent of breastfeeding mothers provided a supplement containing vitamin D. The percentage of breastfeeding mothers who gave a supplement containing vitamin D to their baby in Quebec is near the Canadian average.
In the Atlantic region, which includes New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland and Labrador, 71.4 percent of breastfeeding mothers provided a supplement containing vitamin D. The percentage of breastfeeding mothers who gave a supplement containing vitamin D to their baby in the Atlantic region is near the Canadian average.
In the Territories, which include Yukon, Northwest Territories and Nunavut, 79.1 percent of exclusively breastfeeding mothers provided a supplement containing vitamin D. The percent of breastfeeding mothers who gave a supplement containing vitamin D to their baby in the Territories is near the Canadian average.

Percentage of breastfeeding mothers who gave a supplement containing Vitamin D by region, Canada, 2009-2010

Based on information provided by females aged 15 to 55 who had a baby in the last 5 years. Mothers were asked if they gave their baby a vitamin supplement containing vitamin D when their last baby was fed only breast milk.

Source: Health Canada
Data Source: Statistics Canada, Canadian Community Health Survey, 2009-2010

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