Nova Scotia trails most of Canada in exclusive breastfeeding for infants' first six months. Health Canada data shows fewer than 27% of infants in the province met that benchmark in 2022, far below the World Health Organization's target of 50% by 2025.
Researchers say the gap is driven largely by economic insecurity. Kyly Whitfield, a nutrition professor at Mount St. Vincent University, notes that low-income mothers are less likely to sustain breastfeeding-not because formula is cheaper, but because breastfeeding demands significant time, often incompatible with early return to work.
'We have a federal parental leave policy, but for many families, it's not enough to survive on. So folks are going back to work instead of breastfeeding,' Whitfield said.
Lesley Frank, Canada Research Chair at Acadia University, adds that food-insecure mothers start breastfeeding at similar rates but stop earlier due to financial pressures.
Quebec offers a counterexample. There, higher income does not predict better breastfeeding outcomes, a fact researchers attribute to additional provincial support for young families. Whitfield calls Quebec 'a shining star,' suggesting its policies remove the financial burden that discourages breastfeeding elsewhere.
Nova Scotia's child benefit provides up to $1,525 per child annually for low-income families, but advocates say that amount-combined with federal benefits-is insufficient.
The provincial government says any increases will be considered in budget planning and emphasizes non-judgmental support through public health programs.