In a follow-up to their own 2007 U.S. study, researchers conducted a telephone survey of hospitals to determine their use of diaper discharge bags containing formula industry-supplied formula sample packs. This practice is criticized by many, including the World Health Organization, for undermining breastfeeding and violating international codes of marketing.

The follow-up survey included all hospitals in 20 states, including the 10 with the lowest and the 10 with the highest prevalences of sample pack distribution in the original survey. Of the 1,323 hospitals contacted, 28% didn't provide sample packs-more than the 14% that didn't in 2007. In those states with the lowest rates of distribution in the original survey, the overall proportion of hospitals that didn't distribute sample packs rose from 25% in 2007 to 46% in 2010. Similarly, in states with the highest distribution rates in the original survey, the average percentage of sample pack-free hospitals increased, from less than 1% in 2007 to 7% in 2010.

The authors conclude that even though the majority of hospitals in the 20 states still distribute sample packs, these findings suggest that the practice will most likely continue to decrease.-SDSJ

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