Breastfeeding in Canterbury over three decades.
OBJECTIVE
To document breastfeeding levels in Canterbury between 1968 to 1994.


METHODS
The method of feeding at discharge from hospital, at 4 weeks and at 3 months of age was obtained from maternal obstetric records, Plunket nursing notes, parent interviews or by self completed questionnaires. Data were compiled for the years 1968 to 1994.


RESULTS
In 1968, only half of all mothers were breastfeeding when discharged. However, rates have steadily increased since then so that by 1990, 90% of infants were recorded as being breastfed at discharge. Levels of exclusive breastfeeding have also increased. By 1992-4, 82.2% of babies were being exclusively breastfed at discharge from hospital, 72.4% at 4 weeks and 62.5% at 3 months.


CONCLUSIONS
Levels of breastfeeding in Canterbury are now relatively high. The Public Health Commission has set a target for 75% of infants to be fully breastfed at 3 months of age by the year 2000. To achieve this the circumstances that hinder breastfeeding need to be addressed.
Ford
R P
RP
Community Paediatric Unit, Healthlink South, Christchurch.
Schluter
P J
PJ
Wild
C J
CJ
D001903:Bottle Feeding / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D001942:Breast Feeding / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D009520:New Zealand / Q000453:epidemiology; D010351:Patient Discharge; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires