National targets for breastfeeding at hospital discharge have been achieved in Perth.
OBJECTIVE
To report updated rates of breastfeeding in Perth through 2002/3 and to compare them to those from 1992/3.


METHODS



METHODS
A 12-mo longitudinal study.


METHODS
Two public maternity hospitals in Perth, Australia.


METHODS
Eligible mothers of healthy newborn infants delivered between mid-September 2002 and mid-July 2003.


METHODS
All eligible mothers were asked to participate in a 12-mo longitudinal study of infant feeding. While in hospital, participating mothers completed a questionnaire that included questions on how they were feeding their newborn.


METHODS
Prevalence of ever breastfeeding, and breastfeeding at discharge.


RESULTS
A total of 587 mothers, or 55% of those eligible, participated in the study. At hospital discharge, 93.8% of mothers in 2002/3 were breastfeeding compared with 83.8% in 1992/3. Significant increases were observed across all socio-demographic groups, with the biggest increase seen amongst younger mothers and those born outside of Australia. The national target of having in excess of 90% of mothers breastfeeding at discharge from hospital has been achieved in Perth. The challenge for health professionals and the community is to help maintain and further improve these breastfeeding practices.
Graham
K I
KI
School of Medicine, Curtin University of Technology, Perth, Western Australia, Australia. k.graham@curtin.edu.au
Scott
J A
JA
Binns
C W
CW
Oddy
W H
WH
D000328:Adult; D001942:Breast Feeding / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D008423:Maternal Age; D014904:Western Australia