Australia's Breastfeeding Policy: Providing a Healthy Start to the Future Generation
Added on 2022-10-02
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Current government health policy
Introduction
Australia’s breast-feeding policy is based on the aim of providing a healthy start to the
children as they are the future of Australia. Investing in the health of the infants will have
a significant impact on the health in the later years of the future generation. It has been
seen that positive experiences in the early years leave a foundation for a sturdy brain
and provide a wide range of experiences to learn from. Also, the health of the mother
before she becomes pregnant is an important for the health of the child and their future
abilities. The breastfeeding policy of Australia is focused on creating a healthy base for
the child by monitoring the first 1000 days of the child. This period includes the
conception of the child till it 2 years of age.
Background
A new born baby is highly vulnerable and susceptible to a range of diseases and
infections. One of the most effective measures that a mother can take is to breastfeed
their child. However, breastfeeding not only prevents the child from contracting diseases
but also protects the mother from life threatening diseases like cancer, obesity, weight
gain and hormonal imbalance which can cause metabolic changes in the body. Infants
who have been breastfed for the required period of time also have less chances to
contract diseases like diabetes, obesity and gain weight when they are older.
However, the recent trends among mothers show that they are hesitant or less likely to
breastfeed their infant up to the required age. Their views have been impacted by
societal pressures, norms and attitudes that are against breastfeeding. Many
projections in media also regards breastfeeding as tedious and strange. Furthermore,
the media portrays the female mammary organs in the sexual light and that makes
mother to be uncomfortable when breastfeeding their child. Also, there is another
perception popularized by child formula-based manufactures, that infants who formula
fed are stronger and grow faster. Given the ease of accessing and feeding the baby
such is high when compared to breastfeeding them. Also, the formula food makes the
child gain weight faster and this is often seen as a sign of growth among the mothers. In
the Western social cultures, where most people in nuclear families and are cut off from
their extended families, the mother of an infant has less access to people from the
generation before who have also nursed a child. Most of these mothers are also
working, which cuts back their time to nurses their child or gain more information about
the process (Binns et al. 2016). As a result, the mother functions as an isolated entity
who has to fend for herself and does what she feels right without much scope for gain
evidence-based information.
Rationale
The aim of the strategy is to be able to support the mothers in the process of
breastfeeding their infant so that they are able to protect the infant from various
infections and also ensure healthy lifestyle as they grow. As the immediate carers of the
baby, the mother and father are required to some decisions that have a profound impact
Introduction
Australia’s breast-feeding policy is based on the aim of providing a healthy start to the
children as they are the future of Australia. Investing in the health of the infants will have
a significant impact on the health in the later years of the future generation. It has been
seen that positive experiences in the early years leave a foundation for a sturdy brain
and provide a wide range of experiences to learn from. Also, the health of the mother
before she becomes pregnant is an important for the health of the child and their future
abilities. The breastfeeding policy of Australia is focused on creating a healthy base for
the child by monitoring the first 1000 days of the child. This period includes the
conception of the child till it 2 years of age.
Background
A new born baby is highly vulnerable and susceptible to a range of diseases and
infections. One of the most effective measures that a mother can take is to breastfeed
their child. However, breastfeeding not only prevents the child from contracting diseases
but also protects the mother from life threatening diseases like cancer, obesity, weight
gain and hormonal imbalance which can cause metabolic changes in the body. Infants
who have been breastfed for the required period of time also have less chances to
contract diseases like diabetes, obesity and gain weight when they are older.
However, the recent trends among mothers show that they are hesitant or less likely to
breastfeed their infant up to the required age. Their views have been impacted by
societal pressures, norms and attitudes that are against breastfeeding. Many
projections in media also regards breastfeeding as tedious and strange. Furthermore,
the media portrays the female mammary organs in the sexual light and that makes
mother to be uncomfortable when breastfeeding their child. Also, there is another
perception popularized by child formula-based manufactures, that infants who formula
fed are stronger and grow faster. Given the ease of accessing and feeding the baby
such is high when compared to breastfeeding them. Also, the formula food makes the
child gain weight faster and this is often seen as a sign of growth among the mothers. In
the Western social cultures, where most people in nuclear families and are cut off from
their extended families, the mother of an infant has less access to people from the
generation before who have also nursed a child. Most of these mothers are also
working, which cuts back their time to nurses their child or gain more information about
the process (Binns et al. 2016). As a result, the mother functions as an isolated entity
who has to fend for herself and does what she feels right without much scope for gain
evidence-based information.
Rationale
The aim of the strategy is to be able to support the mothers in the process of
breastfeeding their infant so that they are able to protect the infant from various
infections and also ensure healthy lifestyle as they grow. As the immediate carers of the
baby, the mother and father are required to some decisions that have a profound impact
on the baby. The aim of the strategy is supporting the parents of the child to make
better decisions that is likely to better their health condition and chances at having a
healthy life.
The policy has a well-integrated system through which the Commonwealth, state and
local government and grass organizations can be informed and supported to spread
awareness at their level. It identifies the areas and objectives that require more attention
and priority (Arora et al. 2017). The main objectives of the policy are to increase the
number of children that are exclusively breastfed up to the age of 6 months to 40% in
2022 and 50% by 2025 according to the WHO principles (Coag health council, 2019).
The next objective is to enable the mothers and father to access evidence-based
understanding of breastfeeding and other clinical care services for the baby.
Relevant theory
The policy is based on the theory of reasoned actions and planned behaviour.
According to this theory the health behaviour of an individual depends on their interest
in performing a function or not. And their intent is performing the behaviour id
dependent on two factors: their attitude towards the appropriate health behaviour and
the subjective norms associated with the behaviour (Ogbo et al. 2016). In the situation
associated with breastfeeding these two aspects are very essential as both the mother’s
attitude and opinions regarding breastfeeding and the subjective norms associated with
it have an impact. Very often, mothers have regarded breast feeding as uncomfortable
and often painful as a result they refrain from doing it or do not engage in it up to the
required age. The subjective norms associated are very complex. The mammary organs
have often faced censure when they are displayed in media as they are regarded as a
sexual organ. Mothers as a result are often condemned for breastfeeding in the open or
in public places.
The way the policy was formulated
The first phase of the policy was launched for the time period of 2010 to 2015. During
these years. This strategy was built as a response to a bill passed to the House of
Representatives Standing Committee on Health and Ageing. A survey was performed
enquiring the health benefits of breastfeeding (McGuire, 2019). There are many other
strategies or organisations that work along with the policy to raise an awareness. They
all focused on the same areas. The formulation of 2019 policy was done after combining
salient points from each of them. Furthermore, there are WHO and other international
organisational policies which were considered as the basis. The strategies used were
then made according to the needs and focus of the Australian people in general.
The way the policy was implemented
The implementation plan has ten clearly identified action areas. The first point is to
monitor the rates of breastfeeding and the associated health benefits. The professionals
and associated volunteer organisation plan an awareness program that will engage the
attention of the mothers and fathers as well as other people willing to conceive a baby.
This way the general awareness regarding breastfeeding will be gained and the societal
better decisions that is likely to better their health condition and chances at having a
healthy life.
The policy has a well-integrated system through which the Commonwealth, state and
local government and grass organizations can be informed and supported to spread
awareness at their level. It identifies the areas and objectives that require more attention
and priority (Arora et al. 2017). The main objectives of the policy are to increase the
number of children that are exclusively breastfed up to the age of 6 months to 40% in
2022 and 50% by 2025 according to the WHO principles (Coag health council, 2019).
The next objective is to enable the mothers and father to access evidence-based
understanding of breastfeeding and other clinical care services for the baby.
Relevant theory
The policy is based on the theory of reasoned actions and planned behaviour.
According to this theory the health behaviour of an individual depends on their interest
in performing a function or not. And their intent is performing the behaviour id
dependent on two factors: their attitude towards the appropriate health behaviour and
the subjective norms associated with the behaviour (Ogbo et al. 2016). In the situation
associated with breastfeeding these two aspects are very essential as both the mother’s
attitude and opinions regarding breastfeeding and the subjective norms associated with
it have an impact. Very often, mothers have regarded breast feeding as uncomfortable
and often painful as a result they refrain from doing it or do not engage in it up to the
required age. The subjective norms associated are very complex. The mammary organs
have often faced censure when they are displayed in media as they are regarded as a
sexual organ. Mothers as a result are often condemned for breastfeeding in the open or
in public places.
The way the policy was formulated
The first phase of the policy was launched for the time period of 2010 to 2015. During
these years. This strategy was built as a response to a bill passed to the House of
Representatives Standing Committee on Health and Ageing. A survey was performed
enquiring the health benefits of breastfeeding (McGuire, 2019). There are many other
strategies or organisations that work along with the policy to raise an awareness. They
all focused on the same areas. The formulation of 2019 policy was done after combining
salient points from each of them. Furthermore, there are WHO and other international
organisational policies which were considered as the basis. The strategies used were
then made according to the needs and focus of the Australian people in general.
The way the policy was implemented
The implementation plan has ten clearly identified action areas. The first point is to
monitor the rates of breastfeeding and the associated health benefits. The professionals
and associated volunteer organisation plan an awareness program that will engage the
attention of the mothers and fathers as well as other people willing to conceive a baby.
This way the general awareness regarding breastfeeding will be gained and the societal
norms or opinions associated it with also be cleared. Another issue noted among the
mothers, is that they are unable to produce enough milk to sustain the baby solely by
breastfeeding (Cramer et al. 2017). As a result, they have to feed the baby formula milk
which has a detrimental impact on the baby. The mothers need to be guided about the
dietary measures before, during and after pregnancy that would able to keep them
healthy. Also, the growth charts for the baby will be provided that will showcase
evidence- based measurements of the baby (Cox, Giglia & Binns, 2015). This is a move
against eradicating the misconceptions associated with formula feeding the baby and
believing that they are more content grow better than when they are breastfed.
Critical assessment
Unlike many other policies regarding breastfeeding the Australian policy, identifies the
father as an important entity that is able to make decisions that will impact the child.
Most breastfeeding policies solely focus on the mother and child, often disregarding the
role of the father. The policy is not the first one in its sphere as a result, there has been
substantial research and surveys conducted (Chamberlain et al. 2017). This ensures
that the information provided is based on real life evidence and will also be easily
applicable in real life situations. The policy clearly identifies the policymakers at all
levels who are associated with the health of the mother and the child. It is to be used as
a tool for guiding families through the breastfeeding process. It identifies the mother,
father and other partners of the family, the healthcare sector, the employers, child care
service providers and business organisations providing breastfeeding supports as their
partners in the task of increasing the prevalence of breastfeeding among children up to
6 months.
The policy stands true to its aims and has underlined many measures to provide
information awareness among the public. However, there is no proper planning to
regulate the media which plays an important role in defining the body identity and body
image among the females. There are certain societal expectations of beauty and body
morphism which shape the way the females view their body. Moreover, this identity or
perception is not only limited to the female section of the society (Woolhouse et al.
2016). The media’s portrayal of breasts as a means to sexual gratification have created
an expectation in the minds of men. They are unable to visualise the organ as having a
role in nursing a child. Also, the process of breastfeeding is uncomfortable for the
mother. A female who is not comfortable which her body and having to breastfeed her
baby is likely to be more hesitant than others. As a result, the policy needs to engage
media and its projection upon the society to make a positive change regarding the
connotations associated with breastfeeding.
Recommendations
The policy can engage projections of media by starting a campaign about female
body perceptions.
An awareness about body positivity is necessary among the mothers in the age
group 20-29. Women undergoing pregnancy watch their body change drastically
mothers, is that they are unable to produce enough milk to sustain the baby solely by
breastfeeding (Cramer et al. 2017). As a result, they have to feed the baby formula milk
which has a detrimental impact on the baby. The mothers need to be guided about the
dietary measures before, during and after pregnancy that would able to keep them
healthy. Also, the growth charts for the baby will be provided that will showcase
evidence- based measurements of the baby (Cox, Giglia & Binns, 2015). This is a move
against eradicating the misconceptions associated with formula feeding the baby and
believing that they are more content grow better than when they are breastfed.
Critical assessment
Unlike many other policies regarding breastfeeding the Australian policy, identifies the
father as an important entity that is able to make decisions that will impact the child.
Most breastfeeding policies solely focus on the mother and child, often disregarding the
role of the father. The policy is not the first one in its sphere as a result, there has been
substantial research and surveys conducted (Chamberlain et al. 2017). This ensures
that the information provided is based on real life evidence and will also be easily
applicable in real life situations. The policy clearly identifies the policymakers at all
levels who are associated with the health of the mother and the child. It is to be used as
a tool for guiding families through the breastfeeding process. It identifies the mother,
father and other partners of the family, the healthcare sector, the employers, child care
service providers and business organisations providing breastfeeding supports as their
partners in the task of increasing the prevalence of breastfeeding among children up to
6 months.
The policy stands true to its aims and has underlined many measures to provide
information awareness among the public. However, there is no proper planning to
regulate the media which plays an important role in defining the body identity and body
image among the females. There are certain societal expectations of beauty and body
morphism which shape the way the females view their body. Moreover, this identity or
perception is not only limited to the female section of the society (Woolhouse et al.
2016). The media’s portrayal of breasts as a means to sexual gratification have created
an expectation in the minds of men. They are unable to visualise the organ as having a
role in nursing a child. Also, the process of breastfeeding is uncomfortable for the
mother. A female who is not comfortable which her body and having to breastfeed her
baby is likely to be more hesitant than others. As a result, the policy needs to engage
media and its projection upon the society to make a positive change regarding the
connotations associated with breastfeeding.
Recommendations
The policy can engage projections of media by starting a campaign about female
body perceptions.
An awareness about body positivity is necessary among the mothers in the age
group 20-29. Women undergoing pregnancy watch their body change drastically
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