Breastfeeding support failing to achieve target

INITIATIVES by the Southern District Health Board to boost breastfeeding rates have not worked and a fresh approach is needed, the Ministry of Health says.

Breastfeeding is one of many areas where the ministry monitors DHB performance, and the SDHB had not achieved the national target for 70% of infants to be exclusively or fully breastfeeding at 3 months old.

‘‘Unfortunately, initiatives rolled out to date do not appear to be having the desired impact as Southern’s breastfeeding rates have been almost static since 2015,’’ a report from the ministry to the DHB said.

‘‘New and innovative initiatives are required to markedly improve your breastfeeding rates, not only for Maori and Pacific infants, but for your entire population.’’

In Southern, 63% of infants were exclusively or fully breastfeeding at 3 months, a figure which was 56% for Maori and 58% for Pacific children.

The national total population average was 59%.

The SDHB response to the ministry pointed out low breastfeeding rates were not just a regional but a national problem, and said it would welcome being invited to be involved in any New Zealandwide discussions.

‘‘We will also raise the issue with the Child and Youth South Island Alliance to try and share learnings at a regional level.’’

The SDHB has a wide range of breastfeeding support schemes in place, which include antenatal breastfeeding support classes, a peer support programme, an app which provided basic breastfeeding education, and three breastfeeding networks across the region.

A community pilot breastfeeding support contract had been signed with the Pacific Trust Otago, and Public Health South had advocated for breastfeeding support in workplaces and public spaces.

‘‘The Southern district is interested in introducing innovative initiatives to improve breastfeeding rates, and the ministry feedback will be a topic of discussion for an upcoming districtwide breastfeeding hui,’’ the board response said.