Describing breastfeeding practices in New South Wales using data from the NSW Child Health Survey, 2001

Abstract

The National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) have outlined breastfeeding practices conducive to health in their Dietary Guidelines for Children and Adolescents in Australia, including exclusive breastfeeding to about six months of age, introducing solids appropriately at around six months of age, and extending breastfeeding to at least 12 months of age (see 'National Health and Medical Research Council infant feeding guidelines for health workers', page 41 in this issue). However there is little information about the extent to which population breastfeeding practices are consistent with these guidelines. There is no national monitoring system for collecting and disseminating information about breastfeeding practices in Australia. The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) National Health Survey collects information about breastfeeding, but the information presented has not been fully aligned with the recommended national indicators (see Box 1: Recommended indicators and definitions used for monitoring breastfeeding in Australia, page 38 in this issue), or the NHMRC guidelines. Consequently, it is difficult to measure changes in breastfeeding practices in the population and to plan and target programs and services to promote breastfeeding.