Breastfeeding Issues in Australia for Young Children - Report Example

Running Head: In Nursing Perspective: Family Health (Child And Adolescent) Student’s Name: Instructor’s Name: Course Code and Name: University: Date Assignment is due: Words: 1590 (Excl. Front Page & References) In Nursing Perspective: Family Health (Child And Adolescent) Introduction This brief report examines breastfeeding issues in Australia for young children as identified and analyzed, from the Child & Youth Health Intergovernmental Partnership plan published in 2004 under the title, Healthy Children- Strengthening Promotion and Prevention across Australia: Developing a National Public Action Plan for Children 2005- 2008. Breastfeeding in an important part of children health as the report establishes and a key area of concern when adjudicating strategies of reducing child mortality rates in Australia (National Public Health Partnership, 2005). The essay, focused on the young Australian children, provides background information on children health in Australia before focusing on breastfeeding perse. The influential issues on breastfeeding and the role of the nursing practice will be discussed and recommendations drafted on ideal nursing practices in solving breastfeeding problems. The target audience is the nursing profession, parents of young children and the Australian government agencies concerned with children health. Background of the Report The document of analysis clearly states that the health, development and general wellbeing of the Australian children is a national issue that has gained increased importance today (National Public Health Partnership, 2005). Importantly, the report also notes that a child’s early life experiences can and do impact on his or her health while young, wellbeing while growing up, education and work later on as well as the continued social participation throughout the course of his or her life (National Public Health Partnership, 2005). The quality of a person’s childhood is definitive to his or her quality of life later on. Ideally, this paper is concerned about children between the age of birth and three years old, a period in which breastfeeding is pertinently crucial to the well being and health of that child (National Public Health Partnership, 2005). At this age, breastfeeding is the only means by which a child feeds adequately, the only way that a child accumulates immunity against diseases and the only way that a child begins social bonding (National Public Health Partnership, 2005). While the age of childhood is as critical in promoting good health and child development, the adequacy and quality of breastfeeding takes center stage in ‘determining their future health and wellbeing (National Public Health Partnership, 2005). According to the National strategic framework, the innovative approaches that constitute the directions and the initial priority action areas of Australian children health should start by improving the breastfeeding support especially immediately after birth and even beyond (National Public Health Partnership, 2005). That will involve such service delivery initiatives and practices as improving availability of and the access to quality antenatal care for the Aboriginal Australians as well as Torres Strait Islander families, developing a consistent national approach in home visiting nursing care and developing best nursing practice guidelines covering antenatal medical and social care (National Public Health Partnership, 2005). Breastfeeding as a Factor in Australian Children’s Health According to the document under analysis, majority of Australian children enjoy very good health. However, many children still face great disadvantage in their early stages of life. These health disadvantages aren’t only confined to the Aboriginal and children born among the Torres Strait Islanders but also the children born in linguistically and culturally diverse backgrounds (National Public Health Partnership, 2005). Notably, areas where children have great hardships can be directly associated with low incomes or being born in low-income families. Most of these children are brought up in disadvantaged communities, communities with poor access to nursing services, poor housing, family and or community violence etc. Such children may also be born to parents with disability, substance abuse trends, mental illnesses and low levels of education. All these issues end up negatively affecting the health, development and general wellbeing of the children (National Public Health Partnership, 2005). This explains why the aboriginal children and those born to the Torres Strait Islanders have a higher rate of injury, illness and mortality. In one way, as the report suggests, it is a direct reflection of the many negative stresses as well as challenges that the communities in which these children are born, faces (Australian Breastfeeding Association, 2010). The socio-economic disadvantages ranging from parent’s unemployment to adverse exposure to some environmental hazards, discrimination, frequent displacement and unexpected changes of social structure, geographical isolation etc, will have a negative toll on the family’s ability to nurse their children well (Huggins, 2005). The low income stratus the families are susceptible to negative behavior which themselves have a negative impact on children health (Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2006b). The mothers may be given to heavy drinking and smoking trends, the families may witness frequent family violence incidences, heavy drinking and substance abuse etc (Oddy, 2009). The parents will be unable to provide good care to their children. They will be unable to breastfeed them. The negative effects and the disadvantages they inflict; accumulate up and even extend beyond the pregnancy, birth or the initial years of the child’s life (Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2006b). The Place of the Nursing Practice The document of analysis notes that in Australia today, there are many health workers, well placed to assist in the process of promoting health, development, wellbeing and growth of children in health, community and education settings (National Public Health Partnership, 2005). These include health professionals charged with the responsibility of providing care in the course of a pregnancy, immediately after birth and in the course of childhood (Brodribb, 1990). The people working with children range from midwives to obstetricians, from general practitioners to maternal and or child health nurses, from pediatricians to education and allied health professionals (National Public Health Partnership, 2005). There are other health workers who work in other sectors but are also involved in providing services to children such as childcare workers, family support workers, educators, protective services staff among others (Thorley, 2000; National Public Health Partnership, 2005). The one requirement that spans throughout the entire range of children health workers is competence (National Public Health Partnership, 2005). As the report notes, a competent workforce in the industry is crucial to ensuring that children’s health needs are met (Brodribb, et al, 2007). Once the health workers acquire competency and initiate correct nursing practices, they are able to passed on the same knowledge and skills to others (Brodribb et al., 2007). Once the health worker, in this case for instance, the maternal and child health nurses, acquire necessary professional skills, the next thing is to establish connections (Brodribb et al., 2007). There is a high chance that most poor and marginalized communities (the population in which the highest incidence of poor child health are recorded) are also ignorant of the proper childcare practices (Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2006a). They have not been made aware of the needs to breastfeed, the needs to protect the child from harsh climatic conditions and the need to maintain hygiene (Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2006a). Many parents will disregard breastfeeding and favor giving their children solid food, not because they do want to breastfeed, but because they wrongly believe that solid food is better for the baby than the breast milk (Sue, 2004). Such ignorance impacts negatively on children health (Sue, 2004). Conclusion and Recommendations The paper has established that breastfeeding in an important part of children health and a key area of concern when adjudicating strategies of reducing child mortality rates in Australia. The quality of a person’s childhood is definitive to his or her quality of life later on. Many Australian children still face great disadvantage in their early stages of life, especially among Aboriginal communities. These children are brought up in disadvantaged communities with poor access to nursing services and housing, and by parents with disability, substance abuse trends, mental illnesses or illiteracy. The socio-economic disadvantages like parent’s unemployment, poor access to quality health services, adverse exposure to environmental hazards, discrimination, frequent displacement and unexpected social structure changes, geographical isolation etc, also have a negative toll on the family’s ability to nurse their children well. To face this problem, a host of health professionals are charged with the responsibility of providing care during pregnancy, after birth and throughout childhood, including obstetricians, general practitioners, maternal and child health nurses, pediatricians and allied health professionals. The one requirement that spans throughout the entire range of children health care workers is competence. It is therefore the recommendation of this report that strategic directions aimed at improving the health of children in Australia should target providing support services equally for the whole population, with additional priorities for the marginalized areas. Further, the efforts should focus specifically towards eliminating the socio-economic factors that adversely affect some families in bringing up their children. It is the recommendation of this report that the nursing practice in these areas should be aimed at strengthening the capacity of parents, communities and families with knowledge on children health. This will eventually eliminate the ignorance that prompts the families and communities to bring up their children in unhealthy circumstances. Given that in areas where breastfeeding is treated with ignorance there are high rates of child mortality, injuries and diseases, then it is recommended that breastfeeding be prioritized as a key are requiring sensitization and education efforts in the practice of nursing for parents living in such areas. This report also recommends that the strategic plans aimed at addressing healthcare issues among Australian children should start with improving the skills and knowledge base of the people who work with children, most notably the maternal and child health nurses, since competent workers have a great impact on children health outcomes. References Australian Bureau of Statistics (2006a). National Health Survey: Summary of Results in Australia, 2004-05, cat. no. 4364.0. Canberra: ABS. Australian Bureau of Statistics (2006b). Causes of Death in 2004. Cat. No. 3303.0. Canberra: ABS. Australian Breastfeeding Association (2010). Breastfeeding - The Natural Choice. Retrieved August 05, 2010, from http://www.breastfeeding.asn.au/bfinfo/general.html Brodribb, W., Jackson, C., Fallon, A. & Hegney, D. (2007). What do Australian medical programs teach medical students about breastfeeding? Focus on Health Professional Education: A Multi-Disciplinary Journal. Vol. 9 (2). pp. 83-94. Brodribb, W. (Ed). (1990). Breastfeeding management in Australia : reference and study guide. Melbourne: Nursing Mother's association of Australia. Huggins, K. (2005). The Nursing Mother's Companion. Sixth Edition. London: Harvard Common. National Public Health Partnership (2005). Healthy Children – Strengthening Promotion and Prevention Across Australia. National Public Health Strategic Framework for Children 2005–2008. NPHP, Melbourne (VIC). Retrieved August 05, 2010, from http://www.dhs.vic.gov.au/nphp/workprog/chip/documents/CHIPFramework14Sept05web.pdf Oddy, W. (2009). The Long-Term Effects of Breastfeeding on Child and Adolescent populations. The Journal of Pediatrics. Vol. 156 (4). pp 568-574. Pryor, G. (2007). Nursing Mother, Working Mother. New York: Harvard Common Press. Sawyer, M., Arney, F., Baghurst, P., Clark, J., Graetz, B. & Kosky, R. (2000). Mental Health of Young People in Australia. Canberra: DoHA. Sue, C. (2004). Breastfeeding With Confidence. Melbourne: Finch Publishing. Thorley, V. (2000). Complementary and competing roles of volunteers and professionals in the breastfeeding field. International Journal of Self Help and Self Care. Vol. 1(2). pp. 131-179. Read More