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Policy Analysis and Critique - Doc

   

Added on  2021-05-30

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Running head: POLICY ANALYSIS AND CRITIQUE1Policy Analysis and CritiqueNameInstitution

POLICY ANALYSIS AND CRITIQUE2Policy Analysis and CritiqueIntroductionIdentification of the Problem Ordinarily, breastfeeding is one of the precious gifts that the mothers should give to their newborn babies. Breast milk is recommended because it has lots of benefits to the infant and the mother as well. Research has proven that a child who feeds on breast milk gets antibodies which help in the protection of the body from various ailments such as otitis media, respiratory illness, childhood obesity, and gastroenteritis that a child might experience as it grows up. Besides, breastfeeding can enable a child to be intelligent because it helps in cognitive development. Apart from enabling the mother to create a cordial bond with the child, breastfeeding can also bring other health benefits to the woman such as the protection against diseases like ovary and breast cancer. This shows that breastfeeding is essential for the well-being of both the mother and the infant. It therefore means that breastfeeding is a significant activity that must be embraced by all the mothers because it means well for the society. If properly done, breastfeeding can guarantee a healthy society. The Status of Breastfeeding in Australia Despite playing such a significant role, breastfeeding has remained a perpetual problem in the country. According to the research conducted by government, Australia is not doing well as far as breastfeeding is concerned. Enough evidence was gotten to prove that there are a large number of parents who do not engage in breastfeeding. This research that was actually funded bythe government revealed that in 2004, 92% of the mothers introduced their babies to full breast

POLICY ANALYSIS AND CRITIQUE3milk upon their birth. However, as time went by, the number declined to 71% by the first month, 56% by the third month, 46% by the forth month, and 145 by the sixth month. When it comes to the parents who were using partial breast feeding, there was a 93% by the first month, 73% by the third month, 63% by the fourth month, 56% by the sixth month, 30% by the twelfth month, and 5% by 24 months. These are the people who were using breast milk alongside the supplement formulas for their children. The rate of breastfeeding, though fairly static over the past ten years, varies from one territory to the other because it is tremendously low in the New South Wales and Victorian states. In Victoria, for instance, the rate of breastfeeding had declinedfrom 485 to 215 between 1950s to the 1970s. However, this rate rose to 54% by 1988 (Hull, Schubert & Smith, 2017). On comparison to the global breastfeeding efforts, Australia ranks low. The country’s breastfeeding rates are lower than those in the other member countries of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) because they are fairly dongwell as far as breastfeeding is concerned. Many Australians do not engage in breastfeeding because of different reasons. Accordingto the findings of the National Health Survey, most of the Australian mothers discontinue breastfeeding their babies just a few months after birth because of ignorance. Most mothers do not know that breastfeeding has health benefits to the child because it is the best way through which they acquire the natural antibodies that they need to protect themselves from diseases that might even kill them if not handled well (Cox, Giglia, Zhao & Binns, 2014). Such ignorance might result from the cultural beliefs held on breastfeeding, its significance, and impacts on the health of the mothers. Besides, some parents stop breastfeeding their infants because of their daily commitments. This problem is common amongst the women who are employed because they might find it challenging to juggle between the work and caring for the baby. Such women

POLICY ANALYSIS AND CRITIQUE4often resort to supplement feeding because it is convenient and cannot interfere with their career in any way. Last, but not least, some Australian women do not breast feed their children for many months because they do not have enough milk in their breasts. Scientific evidence proves that such challenges are caused by problems like the cracking of the nipples that makes it difficult for the mothers to endure breastfeeding their kids (Smith & Blake, 2013). Some women do not like to breastfeed in the public since they consider it as an act of shame. However, no matter the case, each and every mother should consider breastfeeding their babies because it means a lot to them. All he Australian parents must acknowledge that breastfeeding is the best alternative that cannot be, in any way, comparable to the use of formula. All the necessary effortsshould be, therefore, made to ensure that all the new born babies are fed until the right time for their weaning reaches. Policy Analysis The commonwealth and the territorial governments of Australia acknowledge that breastfeeding is an area of public health concern. The statistics show that there are many Australian mothers who do not engage in the breastfeeding of their children. The rate at which the mothers stop breastfeeding their babies after birth is worrying (BMid, 2015). It worries because it deprives such children of an opportunity to enjoy the right health that they require to grow to be useful people who might be relied upon to guarantee the future prosperity of the nation (McLelland, Hall, Gilmour & Cant, 2015). The fact that more than 50% of the Australian children above the age of six months do not benefit from breast milk is not a light matter. The failure of the mothers to give their children breast milk is a costly affair because it does not meanwell for the country’s healthcare sector that is forced to allocate huge amount of money to finance children’s health (Wambach & Riordan, 2014). If the culture of breast feeding were

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