title: Infant-feeding practices in Western Australia and Tasmania: a joint survey, 1984-1985.
abstract: A joint survey of infant-feeding practices that was carried out in Western Australia and Tasmania in 1984-1985 showed a continuing trend back to breast-feeding in both States. In Western Australia and Tasmania, 86% and 81% of mothers, respectively, were breast-feeding their babies on hospital discharge. Forty-five per cent of all mothers were still breast-feeding at six months. The social rank of the family had a significant effect on both the prevalence of breast-feeding and on the length of lactation: more mothers in the higher social groups breast-fed their infants, and for longer periods than did mothers of lower social groups. Few infants were introduced to solid foods before three months of age; however, solid and non-milk foods were introduced earlier to infants who were fed artificially than those who were breast-fed.
authors.affiliation: Gastroenterology and Nutrition Research Unit, Princess Margaret Children's Medical Research Foundation, Perth, WA.
authors.forename: N E
authors.initials: NE
authors.lastname: Hitchcock
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Coy
mesh_terms: D001722:Birth Order; D001903:Bottle Feeding; D001942:Breast Feeding; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007225:Infant Food; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D012923:Social Class; D013648:Tasmania; D013997:Time Factors; D014904:Western Australia