No, I don't because there isn't anything mothers are doing to really affect the health of anybody but themselves and their babies.

No how would that be a public health issue? It doesn't affect the health of the public.

Absolutely! And the World Health Organisation agrees, too, as well as other agencies.

Don't quite see how breastfeeding affects the public's health in any way.

In terms of "if a baby does not get fed when it is hungry, then its health is affected", yes.

Only in the sense that mother's milk is the best for baby's health. So the issue is only that people need to be educated to that effect. If you are talking about breastfeeding in public, no, absolutely not. The baby's health comes before the embarrassment of those who don't want to see it. If you don't want to see it, don't look.

Seriously, Yes, if an infant is not feed when it is hungry, then its health is at risk. I have encountered mom's breast feeding more often lately and they are all very discrete. An Arizona city recently tried to pass and ordinance preventing this situation, but it was quickly rescinded due to public criticism.

Yes. Breastfeeding reduces health care costs. For example, the International Journal of Gynecology and Obstetrics reported in 1994 that $2-4 billion could be saved annually in the US if all women breastfed their babies for 12 weeks. Of the women who initiate breastfeeding, few continue beyond a few weeks. This suggests that women are not receiving adequate support in the efforts. Breastfeeding is economical. The cost of formula has increased 150% since the 1980s. The estimated cost of artificial feeding for one year is $855.00. Human milk is uniquely suited for human infants. Human milk is a living dynamic fluid specifically produced for human infants. It contains nutrients in the amount and quality needed by the infant. No formula has been produced that replicates the composition of nutrients in human milk. In addition to nutrients, human milk contains enzymes, hormones, growth factors, immunological and anti-allergic factors and prostaglandins. Formula contains nutrients but does not contain any of the other components mentioned above. And, the concentration and bioavailability of nutrients are superior in human milk. For example, fatty acids, unique to human milk, may play a role in infant brain and visual development. Breastfeeding can save lives. The lack of breastfeeding is a risk factor for sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Human milk may protect premature infants from life-threatening gastrointestinal disease. Breastfed infants are healthier. For example, infants who are exclusively breastfed for at least four months are half as likely as bottle fed infants to have ear infections in the first year of life. They are less likely to have diarrhea. Breastfeeding has been shown to reduce the incidence and lessen the severity of bacterial infections such as meningitis, lower respiratory infections, and bacteremia. Breastfeeding is protective against infant botulism. Evidence suggests that exclusive breastfeeding for at least two months protects susceptible children from Type I insulin dependent diabetes mellitus. Breastfeeding helps mothers recover from childbirth. Breastfeeding helps the uterus to shrink to its prepregnancy state and reduces the amount of blood lost after delivery. Mothers who breastfeed for at least three months may lose more weight than bottle-feeding mothers. Breastfeeding mothers usually resume their menstrual cycles 20 to 30 weeks later than bottle-feeding women. Breastfeeding can be an important factor in child spacing among women who do not use contraceptives. Nursing reduces the risk of breast and ovarian cancer. Women who breastfeed their infants are less likely to develop multiple sclerosis. Breastfeeding may reduce the risk of osteoporosis. And during lactation, total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and triglyceride levels decline while the beneficial HDL cholesterol level remains high.

breast milk is best milk. the only public health issue is that it is good, in fact ideal, for children.