A Western Australian survey of breastfeeding initiation, prevalence and early cessation patterns
- PMID: 20077131
- DOI: 10.1007/s10995-009-0554-2
A Western Australian survey of breastfeeding initiation, prevalence and early cessation patterns
Abstract
This paper reports on current initiation and prevalence rates, in Western Australia, differentiating 'any' breastfeeding with 'exclusive' breastfeeding whilst exploring patterns and reasons for stopping breastfeeding. The results presented are part of a larger study examining women's perceptions of care and wellbeing in the early postnatal period. A cross sectional survey was used to examine infant feeding practices during the hospital stay and at 9 weeks post birth from Western Australian women with a registered live birth between February and June 2006. Data obtained from 2,669 women revealed a 93% (n = 2,472) initiation rate of any breastfeeding. More multiparous women (73.5%) were exclusively breastfeeding in hospital compared to primiparous women (65.2%), which decreased to 57.1 and 49.2%, respectively at 9 weeks. Of those who had ceased by 9 weeks, more multiparous women (71.1%) ceased before 3 weeks. Reasons cited for ceasing in order of frequency were insufficient milk supply, infant related reasons, pain and discomfort and emotional reasons. Younger maternal age, primiparous women, lower maternal education levels, offering a combination of breast milk and formula in hospital and caesarean birth were significant independent predictors of early cessation. Although initiation rates including "any" breast milk are meeting NHMRC dietary guidelines of 90%, the 60% target of exclusive breastfeeding is not being achieved for 3 months or in fact at 9 weeks. Targeted support for at risk groups such as younger, less well-educated, primiparous women must continue. Evidence based policies to protect breastfeeding must address the practice of offering formula to breastfed infants in hospital and the impact of increasing interventions such as caesarean births.
Similar articles
-
Breastfeeding outcome comparison by parity.Breastfeed Med. 2015 Apr;10(3):156-62. doi: 10.1089/bfm.2014.0119. Epub 2014 Dec 30. Breastfeed Med. 2015. PMID: 25549051 Free PMC article.
-
An Ecological Momentary Assessment of Primiparous Women's Breastfeeding Behavior and Problems From Birth to 8 Weeks.J Hum Lact. 2017 May;33(2):285-295. doi: 10.1177/0890334417695206. Epub 2017 Mar 23. J Hum Lact. 2017. PMID: 28418803 Free PMC article.
-
The Association Between Covariates, with Emphasis on Maternal Body Mass Index, and Duration of Exclusive and Total Breastfeeding.Breastfeed Med. 2020 Oct;15(10):622-629. doi: 10.1089/bfm.2019.0138. Epub 2020 Jun 25. Breastfeed Med. 2020. PMID: 32589453
-
Factors associated with early breastfeeding cessation in Frankston, Victoria: a descriptive study.Breastfeed Rev. 2009 Jul;17(2):13-9. Breastfeed Rev. 2009. PMID: 19685854 Review.
-
The decision not to initiate breastfeeding--women's reasons, attitudes and influencing factors--a review of the literature.Breastfeed Rev. 2011 Jul;19(2):9-17. Breastfeed Rev. 2011. PMID: 22053499 Review.
Cited by
-
Causes of perception of insufficient milk supply in Western Australian mothers.Matern Child Nutr. 2021 Jan;17(1):e13080. doi: 10.1111/mcn.13080. Epub 2020 Sep 20. Matern Child Nutr. 2021. PMID: 32954674 Free PMC article.
-
Contradictions and conflict: a meta-ethnographic study of migrant women's experiences of breastfeeding in a new country.BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2012 Dec 27;12:163. doi: 10.1186/1471-2393-12-163. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2012. PMID: 23270315 Free PMC article. Review.
-
Longitudinal changes in wellbeing amongst breastfeeding women in Australia and New Zealand during the COVID-19 pandemic.Eur J Pediatr. 2022 Oct;181(10):3753-3766. doi: 10.1007/s00431-022-04580-y. Epub 2022 Aug 17. Eur J Pediatr. 2022. PMID: 35976413 Free PMC article.
-
The perceptions and experiences of women with a body mass index ≥ 30 kg m2 who breastfeed: A meta-synthesis.Matern Child Nutr. 2019 Jul;15(3):e12813. doi: 10.1111/mcn.12813. Epub 2019 Apr 26. Matern Child Nutr. 2019. PMID: 30901509 Free PMC article.
-
The use of herbal medicines during breastfeeding: a population-based survey in Western Australia.BMC Complement Altern Med. 2013 Nov 13;13:317. doi: 10.1186/1472-6882-13-317. BMC Complement Altern Med. 2013. PMID: 24219150 Free PMC article.
References
Publication types
MeSH terms
LinkOut - more resources
Full Text Sources
Medical