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Are we adequately providing support services for optimal infant nutrition in Australia? A study in regional NSW
Insights
Infant feeding support services in Australia show inconsistencies. Breastfeeding services align with recommendations, but infant formula support and continuous care are lacking, impacting optimal infant nutrition.
Area of Science:
- Maternal and Child Health
- Public Health Nutrition
- Pediatric Care
Background:
- Professional assistance for infant feeding in Australia may not align with best practices.
- Current infant nutrition services require evaluation against established recommendations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess compliance of infant nutrition services (breastfeeding, formula feeding, at-risk infants) with current recommendations.
- To identify gaps in professional support for parents of infants in the first six months of life.
Main Methods:
- A questionnaire-based study of infant nutrition services in a regional New South Wales area.
- Characterization of assistance provided for infant feeding practices and support for at-risk infants.
Main Results:
- Breastfeeding support services demonstrated greater consistency with recommendations than infant formula services.
- Services were more likely to offer education and professional support for breastfeeding compared to formula feeding.
- At-risk infants were primarily identified via growth monitoring; on-site services and family involvement were common support strategies.
Conclusions:
- While breastfeeding support is generally aligned with guidelines, infant formula feeding support requires improvement.
- Gaps exist in providing continuous antenatal care and transport services for infant nutrition support.
- Enhancing infant formula feeding support and integrated care models is crucial for optimal infant nutrition outcomes.
Abstract:
Evidence from the literature suggests that parents of infants in Australia may not be receiving appropriate professional assistance to support best practice in infant feeding. This study aimed to investigate whether services for infant nutrition (including breastfeeding, infant formula feeding and support for at-risk infants) complied with current recommendations. Relevant services in a regional area of NSW completed a questionnaire to characterise the assistance they provided for parents of infants in the first 6 months of life. Services for breastfeeding, unlike services for use of infant formula, were consistent with recommendations in the literature. Services were significantly more likely to provide education (χ2 (1, n = 44) = 5.939, P < 0.025) and various forms of professional support (χ2 (1, n = 44) = 20.29, P < 0.0001) for breastfeeding compared with infant formula. At-risk infants were mostly identified through growth monitoring, and extra support services were mostly provided on site. Parents of at-risk infants were encouraged to attend services; strategies included involving family in consultations, offering multiple services on site, free services and home visits. Other important measures recommended in the literature, such as providing continuous care from the antenatal period and transport, were provided infrequently.
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