title: Aboriginal women in rural Australia; a small study of infant feeding behaviour.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Aboriginal women in rural areas have lower rates of breastfeeding than Australian averages. The reasons for this are poorly understood. Aboriginal people experience higher morbidity and increased rates of chronic disease throughout the life cycle. The protective effects of sustained breastfeeding could benefit rural Aboriginal communities.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To explore the factors impacting upon infant feeding choices in a rural Aboriginal Community.
  
  
  METHODS
  Semi-structured interviews were conducted with eight Aboriginal rural dwelling first time mothers. These women received a continuity of midwife and Aboriginal Health Worker model of care. Interviews were also undertaken with five Aboriginal Health Workers and two Aboriginal community breastfeeding champions. The analysis was integrated with a conventional literature review and was further developed and illustrated with historical literature. Indigenist methodology guided the study design, analysis and the dissemination of results.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Three key themes were identified. These were "I'm doing the best thing for..." which encompasses the motivations underpinning infant feeding decisions; "this is what I know..." which explores individual and community knowledge regarding infant feeding; and "a safe place to feed" identifying the barriers that negative societal messages pose for women as they make infant feeding decisions. It appears loss of family and community breastfeeding knowledge resulting from colonisation still influences the Aboriginal women of today.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Aboriginal women value and trust knowledge which is passed to them from extended family members and women within their Community. Cultural, historical and socioeconomic factors all strongly influence the infant feeding decisions of individuals in this study.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Efforts to normalise breastfeeding in the culture of rural dwelling Aboriginal women and their supporting community appear to be necessary and may promote breastfeeding more effectively than optimal professional care of individuals can do.
authors.affiliation: Health Education and Training Institute, Lismore, NSW 2480, Australia. Electronic address: catherine@helps.com.au.
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Helps
authors.affiliation: Sydney University Centre for Rural Health, School of Public Health, Lismore, NSW 2480, Australia. Electronic address: lesley.barclay@sydney.edu.au.
authors.forename: Lesley
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Barclay
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D001942:Breast Feeding / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology*; D003466:Cultural Characteristics; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000208:ethnology*; D005260:Female; D006282:Health Personnel; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009035:Mothers; D011247:Pregnancy; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012424:Rural Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012944:Social Support; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors
keywords: Aboriginal; Australian; Breastfeeding; Indigenous; Infant feeding