Breastfeeding trends in New Zealand from 1997-2002 and implications for policy implementation

Abstract

This thesis is about breastfeeding trends, examined in the light of national and local breastfeeding policy implementation. It compares the rates of breastfeeding to governmental breastfeeding targets as specified by the Ministry of Health and analyses barriers to implementation at the local level.

Breastfeeding is an important public health activity as it positively impacts on the health of babies and mothers. It also has economic and environmental benefits. Many factors influence breastfeeding and these are discussed within this thesis.

Using Poisson regression this study analyses the Royal New Zealand Plunket Society breastfeeding data to examine New Zealand breastfeeding trends between 1997 and 2002, compares these to the government targets, and examines the relationship between ethnicity and socio-economic status on breastfeeding.

Policies impact breastfeeding rates. This study also examines a small area of policy implementation by examining breastfeeding policy in hospitals, how it is related to the Ministry of Health's Breastfeeding Action Plan, how the plan is being implemented and any issues that pose barriers to implementation.

Finally this study suggests more realistic of what government breastfeeding targets should be, and emphasises how important it is to introduce strategies to improve rates for Maori and more deprived communities. It also gives recommendations, of how to improve the implementation of one breastfeeding policy - the Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative.