Breastfeeding: Australian Breastfeeding Association volunteers are positive deviants in Australian society

Australian breastfeeding rates are low, and strategies to increase them have been inadequate. New approaches for supporting breastfeeding are required.

Preliminary data suggested that Australian Breastfeeding Association members had higher exclusive breastfeeding rates than the general Australian population. The Engaging Mothers: Breastfeeding Experiences Recounted project provided an opportunity to determine which practices were influencing better breastfeeding outcomes.

(1) To determine whether Australian Breastfeeding Association volunteer trainees were positive deviants regarding breastfeeding practices, (2) to explore characteristics or behaviours underpinning beneficial breastfeeding practices and (3) to identify modifiable characteristics to inform breastfeeding promotion.

A cross-sectional, one-group survey design was used. Breastfeeding-related quantitative and qualitative data were obtained from lactation history questionnaires collected on application to train as volunteers with the Australian Breastfeeding Association (N=174), and analysed using descriptive statistics.

Participants in this project had higher levels of exclusive breastfeeding to around 6 months (64%) and longer duration of breastfeeding (80% to one year) than the general Australian population, going beyond World Health Organization targets. Identified modifiable factors were knowledge and motivation to breastfeed, partner and peer support, birthing outcomes, immediate skin-to-skin contact, formula supplementation and positive attitudes to breastfeeding at work and breastfeeding in public.

Participants could be defined as positive deviants with positive attitudes towards breastfeeding. The personal behaviours and practices of this group may help inform future breastfeeding interventions.

Identifying positive deviants and supporting the broader community to adopt behaviours that explain improved breastfeeding outcomes could be powerful methods to produce change.