The world breastfeeding trends initiative in Australia: Our first national scorecard

There is consensus from leading health authorities that breastfeeding is important for optimal public health and economic outcomes (Renfrew, McCormick, Wade, Quinn and Dowswell, 2012). Australia has high breastfeeding initiation rates but exclusive breastfeeding rates begin to decrease almost immediately to the point where less than 20 percent of babies are exclusively breastfed by six months, and close to 50 percent receiving any breastmilk (AIHW, 2011).