This document was added or updated on 17/07/2015.

BREASTFEEDING

Definition

This topic refers to breastfeeding of children aged 0 to 3 years, and focuses on duration of breastfeeding and ages at which foods other than breast milk were introduced into the infant's regular diet.

Population

Information was collected for children aged 0 to 3 years (that is, children up to 3 years and 11 months of age) in the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Survey (NATSIHS).

Methodology

The following questions were designed to enable measurement of exclusive breastfeeding.

The child's proxy (preferably, but not necessarily, the child's mother) was initially asked whether the child had ever received breast milk. If yes, they were asked:

• if the child was currently receiving breast milk
• whether the child was receiving breast milk when they first came home from hospital.

The proxy was then asked whether the child had been given any other source of food on a regular basis, and at what age the child was first given the other source of food. The other sources that were asked about were:

• infant formula
• any other kind of milk or milk substitute.

The proxy for children aged less than 6 months was further asked whether the child had ever been given soft, semi-solid or solid food, and at what age the child was first given soft, semi-solid or solid food.

If the child was less than 2 years old the proxy was asked what was the child's first feed after being born:

• breast milk
• infant formula
• other.

Of those children who had received breastmilk, the proxy was also asked how soon after being born was the child first fed breastmilk.

Those children that were no longer currently having breast milk, the proxy was asked what the total time of breastfeeding was. The available responses were:

• less than 1 month
• 1 to less than 6 months
• 6 to less 12 months
• 1 year to less than 2 years
• 2 years to less than 3 years
• don't know.

Then the proxy was asked what the main reason for stopping breastfeeding was, with the following available responses:

• not producing any/adequate milk supply
• baby not satisfied
• breast refusal
• self-weaning of baby
• biting/Sore nipples
• returned to work
• felt it was time
• other reason.

Lastly, the proxy was asked whether the mother drank any alcohol while breastfeeding, and if they had, the frequency of alcohol consumption.

Data items

The data items and related output categories for this topic will be available in Excel spreadsheet format from the Downloads page of this product.

Interpretation

Points to be considered in interpreting data for this topic include the following:

• information is 'as reported' by the child's proxy. No analysis has been undertaken regarding accuracy of reported data, and whether accuracy of recall declines as a child gets older.
• accuracy of the data may be affected in cases where an adult other than the child's parent responded for the child.
• a 'don't know' response was available for the majority of questions.

Comparability with 2004-05 National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Survey (NATSIHS)

Data for common items are considered comparable between the 2004-05 NATSIHS and the 2012-13 NATSIHS with the following exception.

Due to differences in collection method, the breastfeeding status item that includes complementary solids only applies to children 0 to 6 months, compared to 0 to 3 years in the 2004-05 survey. Additionally, in 2012-13, a child receiving breast milk and infant formula or milk substitutes but not soft, semi-solid or solid food is classified as partially breastfed. Once solid foods are introduced a child is classified as complimentarily breastfed. Whereas in 2004-05 these definitions were reversed.

Comparability with 2008 National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Survey (NATSISS)

Data for common items are considered comparable between the 2008 NATSISS and the 2012-13 NATSIHS.

Comparability with 2011-12 National Health Survey (NHS)

Data for some common items are considered comparable between the 2011-12 NHS and 2012-13 NATSIHS. There are, however, few common items due to different questioning or collection methods between the surveys, such as NHS having no age restriction for questions about soft, semi-solid or solid food. Although the main population is comparable, it is advisable to review the respective data item lists prior to any comparisons to ensure consistent population groups have been asked in both surveys.

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