Breastfeeding policies and the social context of breastfeeding

Abstract

The World Health Organisation, in 1979, expressed a need to promote infant health through breastfeeding as a global health need. Australia voted in favour of adopting an 'International Code of Marketing of Breast Milk Substitutes' and in 1984 guidelines were issued on the promotion of breastfeeding and implementation of the WHO breastfeeding code. This development occurred in the absence of any evaluation of the social or cultural context in which breastfeeding takes place. The aim of this study is to seek to address the relationship between socio-cultural factors and breastfeeding through an extensive review of the relevant literature. This study found that the socio-economic factors education, occupation and income were significantly related to breastfeeding, with mothers with more education being more successful at breastfeeding. Formal education was found to have a greater influence than breastfeeding education. Also the cultural factors or life practices were significantly related to breastfeeding, with traditional infant feeding practices, after immigration, undergoing breastfeeding modification to those of the host country. The lifestyle practices of cigarette smoking, alcohol consumption and illegal drug use were significantly related to breastfeeding, with smokers, and particularly heavy smokers, being less likely to choose to breastfeed or continue breastfeeding. Another cultural factor found to be sigmficantly related to breastfeeding was the support from family and friends. However, the male partner was found to have the most influence on the duration of breastfeeding. These soon-cultural factors that influence the infant feeding decision need to be appraised by policy makers concerned with promoting breastfeeding.