Literature review for - Flourish Paediatrics

Breastfeeding Rates in Australia
A number of studies that give breastfeeding rates in Australia are listed here. None of the
available studies give reliable national results. The following difficulties are noted:
1. Most studies are cross sectional in nature. Since infant feeding is a dynamic process,
a cohort study with regular data collection is required to gain accurate information.
2. Sometimes definitions that are used are not standard. Exclusive breastfeeding is
defined as “an infant has received only breastmilk from his/her mother or a wet nurse
or expressed breastmilk and no other liquids or solids with the exception of drops or
syrups consisting of vitamins, mineral supplements or medicines since birth”. In
other cases the classification of exclusive breastfeeding is made on the basis of the
past 24 hours
3. In many cases the samples are not nationally representative.
However after taking these caveats into account the breastfeeding rates in Australia are:
Any breastfeeding 90-92% initiation and approximately 50% are breastfeeding at six months.
Exclusive breastfeeding. Very few infants are exclusively breastfed until 6 months
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