Peer-reviewed article
Breastfeeding among contemporary Australian populations and 2025 national targets: a scoping review of current data and implications for policy and practice.
Oliveri M, Young J, Rae KM, Clifton V ·
Summary
Written by AI, not yet AICS's view · claude-haiku-4-5-20251001This scoping review examines breastfeeding practices in Australia since 2010 and evaluates progress toward 2025 national targets. The authors found that current breastfeeding data is unreliable, inconsistently measured, and largely absent after hospital discharge, making it difficult to monitor outcomes or support diverse populations. Ethnically diverse and Indigenous Australian populations face particular barriers to achieving breastfeeding targets. The review calls for a standardized national data collection framework and mandatory inclusion of breastfeeding in health performance systems to ensure accountability and equitable support.
Key points
- National breastfeeding data since 2010 remains small in sample size and non-representative of diverse Australian populations
- 68% of included studies reported breastfeeding data only in the first 0–6 months, with 29% measuring status at hospital discharge only
- Inconsistent definitions and reporting of breastfeeding practices result in highly variable prevalence and duration figures across population sub-groups
- Marginalised ethnically diverse and Indigenous Australian populations face unique barriers to achieving breastfeeding targets
- Breastfeeding is currently excluded from national health performance frameworks and mandatory reporting systems, limiting accountability
Limitations
This scoping review examines the quality and representativeness of existing breastfeeding data rather than measuring breastfeeding outcomes directly. It cannot provide definitive prevalence rates or identify causal factors behind barriers, only document gaps in surveillance and highlight populations requiring targeted attention.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Since the 2010 Australian National Infant Feeding Survey, reliable breastfeeding data of comparable scale has been scarce, with annual national data remaining small in sample size and non-representative of diverse Australian populations. National 2025 breastfeeding targets, aligned with global nutrition targets, have not been evaluated. National breastfeeding data largely ceases upon immediate postpartum hospital discharge, resulting in the inability to monitor breastfeeding beyond this timepoint. Consequentially, maternal and child health priorities aimed to reduce health inequities among ethnically diverse and Indigenous Australians, also prove difficult to determine. Accountability towards achieving targets, through ongoing monitoring and evaluation of progress is difficult to establish, as breastfeeding remains excluded from national health performance frameworks and mandatory reporting systems. METHODS: A scoping review was conducted in accordance with Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA-ScR) to identify peer-reviewed publications reporting on breastfeeding practices among Australian populations, since 2010. Identifying recent literature reflecting breastfeeding exclusivity, prevalence, durations, enablers and/or barriers in contemporary and diverse, nationally representative Australian populations, allowed for critical appraisal of Australian breastfeeding surveillance, in comparison to nationally reported breastfeeding data. RESULTS: Inconsistent definitions and reporting of breastfeeding practices resulted in breastfeeding intention, exclusivity and durations varying greatly between population sub-groups identified within the included studies. Durations of 0–6 months accounted for 68% of papers, with 29% of these reporting breastfeeding status at hospital discharge only. Marginalised ethnically diverse and Indigenous Australian populations face unique barriers to achieving breastfeeding targets, with implications to policy and practice baring special consideration. CONCLUSION: Since 2010, Australian breastfeeding rates reported have remained unreliable and non-representative of diverse and marginalised populations. A national, standardised breastfeeding data collection framework, allows for accurate and ongoing documentation of infant feeding from birth, through to toddler years, to effectively evaluate national targets or equity progress. Including breastfeeding as a mandatory national health indicator with standardised national reporting systems, ensures policy accountability to monitor outcomes and guide resource allocation to support targeted interventions for marginalised populations. Cohesive national policy and legislation to protect, promote and support breastfeeding, reduces structural and societal barriers faced in achieving equitable and optimal breastfeeding outcomes.