Socioeconomic status and rates of breastfeeding in Australia: Evidence from three recent national health surveys

Abstract

Objective: To investigate whether the relationship between socioeconomic status and breastfeeding initiation and duration changed in Australia between 1995 and 2004. Design and setting: Secondary analysis of data from national health surveys (NHSs) conducted by the Australian Bureau of Statistics in 1995, 2001 and 2004-05. The Socio-Economic Indexes for Areas (SEIFA) classification was used as a measure of socioeconomic status. Main outcome measures: Rates of initiation of breastfeeding; rates of breastfeeding at 3, 6 and 12 months. Results: Between the 1995 and 2004-05 NHSs, there was little change in overall rates of breastfeeding initiation and duration. In 2004-05, breastfeeding initiati..