Literature review for - Flourish Paediatrics

Monitoring Breastfeeding in Australia
To date all monitoring of breastfeeding in Australia has been done by cross sectional,
retrospective or small regional cohort studies. While much useful data are available (see
Appendix Breastfeeding Rates in Australia below), many studies use different definitions and
sampling methods that make comparisons difficult (Binns, Fraser et al. 2009). An adequate
National Breastfeeding Strategy will require detailed data that is representative, accurate and
reproducible for program development and monitoring. The standard definitions of
categories of breastfeeding should be used. This implies the use of a cohort methodology to
accurately record the dynamic nature of infant feeding. The best model for Australia is the
US program.
Infant Feeding Practices Study II (Centers for Disease Control 2010)
“In response to the nation's continued need to understand and improve the health status of
mothers and children, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention, in collaboration with other federal agencies, conducted a longitudinal
consumer-based research study. This study collected information from mothers using a series
of questionnaires administered from the woman's seventh month of pregnancy through the
infant's first year of life. The study provides detailed information about
Foods fed to infants, including breastmilk and infant formula
Factors that may contribute to infant feeding practices and to breastfeeding success
Mothers' intrapartum hospital experiences, sources of support, and postpartum
depression
Mothers' employment status and child care arrangements
Infant sleeping arrangements
Other issues such as food allergies, experiences with breast pumps, and WIC
participation
Diets of pregnant and postpartum women
The study also served as a vital component to an evaluation of the Department of Health and
Human Services' (DHHS) National Breastfeeding Awareness Campaign.”
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