Infant Feeding
Synopsis
An audit was carried out of feeding practices for all babies born in Clackmannanshire during 2003, with an emphasis on breastfeeding in view of the substantial health benefits to mother as well as her baby. (It followed two previous audits of breastfed-babies in 1996 and 1999.)
The audit included antenatal preparation (breastfeeding workshop and parentcraft) and reasons why mothers choose not to breastfeed, post-delivery hospital practice including advice given to mothers who formula-feed their baby, feeding problems and other reasons for early cessation of breastfeeding, community initiatives for breastfeeding mothers (such as breastfeeding support group), and weaning practices.
Clackmannanshire includes the South and East Alloa Social Inclusion Partnership Area. The audit showed that breastfeeding rates and other infant-feeding practices were particularly poor here; but also that the antenatal workshop was well-received and was beneficial for those who did attend.
Questionaire
Click here to view the questionaire (questionaire.pdf, 63kb).
Key findings
- The initial breastfeeding rate in Clackmannanshire rose from 34% in 1999 to 49% in 2003; but it had fallen to 31% by six weeks of age, which is still well below the target of 50% breastfeeding at that time.
- Attending a breastfeeding workshop had various beneficial effects: notably on the number of mothers at least starting to breastfeed, and on the duration of breastfeeding for first-time mothers. Attendance at a breastfeeding workshop should therefore be strongly encouraged.
- Despite the substantial negative impacts on breastfeeding of using supplements, the practice of giving formula milk to breastfeeding babies in hospital increased from 30% in 1999 to 48% in 2003. This practice must be strongly discouraged.
- Feeding problems are the main reason (69%) for mothers stopping breastfeeding in the first 6 weeks. This emphasises the need to provide appropriate support to breastfeeding mothers in the early stages.
- Over one-third (36%) of mothers introduced solids before the recommended age of 4 months. The early introduction of solids was more prevalent in formula-fed babies.