Breastfeeding: Supporting A Natural Choice

Exclusive breastfeeding ensures food security for infants under 6 months of age. Current breastfeeding rates in the Outer East are well below national targets and have been identified as a nutritional priority.

The project expected to (1) increase understanding of barriers to breastfeeding in previously identified 'at risk' groups such as young mothers, mothers from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) groups and socially disadvantaged mothers and (2) increase community support for breastfeeding mothers by increasing the number of breastfeeding facilities and businesses displaying the 'Breastfeeding Welcome Here' sticker in the Outer East.

Objectives:

• To increase understanding for health promotion professionals of barriers to breastfeeding in socially disadvantaged and CALD groups by September 2009.

• To increase the number of public places and businesses that are breast feeding friendly in the Outer East by 100% in the next 3 years, with the Sub-Objective to award at least 5 public places and businesses in the Healesville area that are breast feeding friendly by September 2009.

• To improve awareness of the breast feeding friendly locations in the Healesville area available to breastfeeding mothers by 75% by the end of September 2009.

• To provide recommendations to the OEPCP on priority future strategies to continue to support the goal of increased breast feeding by the end of September 2009.

Barriers to Breastfeeding research: Interviews and group consultations were run with key stakeholders. The results were combined with a literature review for qualitative analysis.

Breastfeeding Friendly Business initiative: Approval to register businesses on behalf of the ABA and distribute stickers was obtained. Suitable businesses were identified and approached with the business owner questionnaire. Data was collected on all businesses agreeing to be part of the initiative and a resource detailing locations of businesses displaying the 'Breastfeeding Welcome Here' sticker developed and distributed. Additionally local council was approached to advocate for a parent room in Healesville.

Organisations: Eastern Health, Outer East Primary Care Partnership