Journal article
Breastfeeding rates of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women in Australia: A systematic review and narrative analysis
Women and Birth, Vol.35(6), pp.e624-e638
2022
Abstract
Background
Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (referred to hereafter as Aboriginal) women breastfeed at lower rates than non-Aboriginal women, and rates vary across and within Aboriginal populations.
Aim
To determine rates of breastfeeding initiation and maintenance and compare individually collected survey data with existing routinely collected state and national breastfeeding data for Aboriginal women.
Methods
CINAHL, Medline, EMBASE, SCOPUS, PsycINFO, and the Cochrane library were searched for peer-reviewed literature published between 1995 and 2021. Quantitative studies written in English and reporting breastfeeding for Aboriginal women or women having an Aboriginal infant were included. Screening and quality assessment included co-screening 10% of papers. Two reviewers completed data extraction. A proportional meta-analysis was undertaken for breastfeeding initiation and narrative data synthesis used to summarise breastfeeding maintenance.
Findings
The initial search identified 12,091 records, with 31 full text studies retrieved, and 27 reports from 22 studies met inclusion criteria. Breastfeeding initiation was 78% (95% CI 0.71, 0.84), however, rates were lower than non-Aboriginal women. Maintenance ranged between one week and five years. Rates and definitions varied significantly between studies, with inconsistencies in government collection and reporting of breastfeeding.
Conclusion
Significant variation in definitions and reporting make comparisons difficult. Breastfeeding rates were below recommended targets. Future pattern and trend analyses require standardised measures and definitions. Current collection and reporting of breastfeeding data, particularly routinely collected state-based data, is inadequate to present an accurate picture of current breastfeeding in Australia for Aboriginal women and infants, and to effectively inform interventions and policies.
Details
- Title
- Breastfeeding rates of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women in Australia: A systematic review and narrative analysis
- Authors/Creators
- T.L. Springall (Author/Creator) - Griffith UniversityH.L. McLachlan (Author/Creator) - La Trobe UniversityD.A. Forster (Author/Creator) - Royal Women's HospitalJ. Browne (Author/Creator) - Deakin UniversityC. Chamberlain (Author/Creator) - Judith Lumley Centre, School of Nursing and Midwifery, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Centre for Health Equity, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Ngangk Yira: Murdoch University Research Centre for Aboriginal Health and Social Equity, Perth, Western Australia; The Lowitja Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Electronic address: cacham@unimelb.edu.au.
- Publication Details
- Women and Birth, Vol.35(6), pp.e624-e638
- Publisher
- Elsevier
- Identifiers
- 991005540756707891
- Copyright
- © 2022 Australian College of Midwives.
- Murdoch Affiliation
- Ngangk Yira Aboriginal Health Research Centre
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article
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Source: InCites
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47 Record Views
InCites Highlights
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- Collaboration types
- Domestic collaboration
- Citation topics
- 1 Clinical & Life Sciences
- 1.72 Obstetrics & Gynecology
- 1.72.891 Breastfeeding
- Web Of Science research areas
- Nursing
- Obstetrics & Gynecology
- ESI research areas
- Clinical Medicine