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. 2023 Jun 15;20(12):6135.
doi: 10.3390/ijerph20126135.

Exclusive Breastfeeding at Discharge in Regional New South Wales, Australia: The Role of Antenatal Care (2011-2020)

Emma Woolley  1 , Gretchen Buck  1 , Jackie Jackson  1 , Rebekah Bowman  2 , Louise Fox  1 , Shirlena Gallagher  3 , Malindey Sorrell  4 , Pramesh Raj Ghimire  1
Affiliations

Exclusive Breastfeeding at Discharge in Regional New South Wales, Australia: The Role of Antenatal Care (2011-2020)

Emma Woolley et al. Int J Environ Res Public Health. .

Abstract

Increasing the number of infants exclusively breastfeeding on discharge from the hospital after birth is a key goal of breastfeeding policy in New South Wales (NSW), Australia. Despite consistent efforts, exclusive breastfeeding on discharge rates have declined over the past decade. Using pooled data from the New South Wales Perinatal Data Collection from 2011 to 2020, we examined the association between antenatal care (ANC) and exclusive breastfeeding at discharge from birth admission outcomes for mother-baby dyads in Southern New South Wales Local Health District (SNSWLHD). Our study confirmed that exclusive breastfeeding rates in SNSWLHD have declined over the past decade, providing local evidence to support action. Late entry to ANC and a failure to attend the recommended number of ANC visits were important predictors of a lower rate of exclusive breastfeeding on discharge. Improving accessibility to ANC visits for rural and regional mothers has potential to positively impact breastfeeding rates in SNSWLHD. We suggest that wider implementation of caseload midwifery models may have a positive impact on breastfeeding outcomes in the region for all mother-baby dyads, but particularly for Aboriginal mothers and infants, younger mothers and mothers experiencing disadvantage.

Keywords: Australia; New South Wales; antenatal care; breastfeeding; exclusive breastfeeding; maternal health; perinatal care.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Flow diagram of sample selection for exclusive breastfeeding at discharge in SNSWLHD (2011–2020).
Figure 2
Figure 2
Conceptual framework for the use of maternity service and exclusive breastfeeding in SNSWLHD, adopted from Anderson’s behavioural model.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Trend in exclusive breastfeeding at discharge rate with 95% CI in SNSWLHD (N = 13,168).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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