Proposed Strategies for Promoting Breastfeeding in the Community

Abstract

To protect, promote and support breastfeeding in communities is an important primary health care task. One of the Australian health targets set for the year 2000 and beyond is that 80% of infants up to six months of age will be breastfed. However, both the 1989-90 National Health Survey (Lund-Adams & Heywood, 1994) and the 1993 national births' data (Australian Bureau of Statistics, 1994) indicate that breastfeeding rates at age six months are far below this target. Therefore, there is a clear need to develop strategies to promote breastfeeding in Australian communities. Breastfeeding promotion needs to address locally researched barriers and should be integrated with appropriate health care. Proposed strategies for promoting breastfeeding in the community include: monitoring of prevalence and maintenance of breastfeeding; assessment of possible barriers; design of an intervention program; implementation of the intervention program; evaluation; and communication with the community. The Australian breastfeeding target set for the year 2000 can only be achieved through an integrated approach that enhances concerted efforts to promote primary health care and breastfeeding in the community.