Sure Start Bilsthorpe, Blidworth and Clipstone: A local evaluation of

breastfeeding

Bilsthorpe, Blidworth and Clipstone

Previous Research has shown…

• Breast feeding rates vary according to– Social class– Age of the mother– Level of education– Use of peer support programmes

• These findings have informed the local breast-feeding strategy for Sure Start BBC

Questions for the Evaluation

• What are the influential factors in infant feeding decisions?

• How are different interventions valued by the parents accessing them?

• How have local breast-feeding rates been influenced by– breastfeeding support group– incentive scheme– peer counsellor support?

Methodology

• User satisfaction survey asked– What factors influenced infant feeding decisions?– Were respondents entitled to milk token?– What did respondents think of Sure Start breast-

feeding support?

• A comparison of breastfeeding rates across the Sure Start area and between this area and two neighbouring areas

Results of Survey• 24% response rate from 623 questionnaires• 24% of respondents were eligible for milk tokens• 37% of respondents who were eligible for milk

tokens had breastfed• 61% of respondents not eligible for milk tokens had

breastfed• Breastfeeding support services were given the

highest rating out of any Sure Start services • Respondents reported the influential factors in their

infant feeding decisions

Chart to show how respondents rated services and facilities

3

3.5

4

4.5

5

Services & Facilities

Res

po

nd

ents

' Rat

ing

Breastfeeding Support Services

Home Start

Home Safety Equipment

Toddler Time

Health Visitor

Family Play Sessions

Midwifery

PEEP

Newsletter

Speech & Language Therapy

Parenting Support

Cook and Eat

Toy Library

Chance to Chat

Smoking Cessation Support

APTCOO

Benefits Advice

PND Support

Chart 1.

Chart 2

Chart to show how respondents

rated breastfeeding support

The chart excludes any respondents who had not

accessed breastfeeding support

68.3%

22.0%

4.9%

4.9%

Very Good

Good

Poor

Very Poor

Chart to show influential factors in the decision made to breastfeed

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

Influential Factors

Num

ber o

f Res

pond

ents

Baby's Health

View ed as 'natural'

Convenience

Cost

Midw ife

My Health

Health Visitor

Sure Start Support Group

I w as breastfed

Hospital

Sure Start Incentive Scheme

Sure Start Information

Other Information

Sure Start Peer Counsellors

Chart 3.

Chart 4

Chart to show influential factors in the decision made not to breastfeed

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

18

Influential factors

Nu

mb

er

of

Re

sp

on

de

nts

Convenience

Personal Choice

My Health

Pesonal Circumstances

View ed as 'natural'

Baby's Health

Hospital

Inability to breastfeed

Health Visitor

I w as bottle-fed

Problems w ith milk

Negative previous experienceof breastfeedingPrevious children w ere bottle-fedBaby couldn't / didn't w ant tobreastfeedMidw ife

Peer Pressure to bottle-feed

Tw ins

Non - Sure Start information

Comparison of Breastfeeding Rates

Breast-feeding rates in the Sure Start area were

compared with rates from two nearby areas

1) Bilsthorpe, Blidworth and Clipstone, the Sure Start area, with all 3 support services

2) Edwinstowe with only standard support, but lower levels of deprivation

3) Ollerton with only standard support, but levels of deprivation similar to those of BBC

Chart to show breastfeeding rates across 3 different areas April - June 2002

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

Breastfeeding at birth Breastfeeding at 8weeks

Breastfeeding at 4months

Per

cent

age

BBC Area

Edwinstowe

Ollerton

N.b. breastfeeding support services began in the quarter of July – September 2002

Chart to show breastfeeding rates across 3 different areas July - September 2002

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

Breastfeeding at birth Breastfeeding at 8weeks

Breastfeeding at 4months

Per

cent

age BBC Area

Edwinstowe

Ollerton

Chart to show breastfeeding rates across 3 different areas October - December 2002

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

Breastfeeding at birth Breastfeeding at 8weeks

Breastfeeding at 4months

Per

cent

age BBC Area

Edwinstowe

Ollerton

Chart to show breastfeeding rates across 3 different areas January - March 2003

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

Breastfeeding at birth Breastfeeding at 8weeks

Breastfeeding at 4months

Perc

enta

ge BBC Area

Edwinstowe

Ollerton

Chart to show breastfeeding rates across 3 different areas April - June 2003

05

1015

202530

3540

4550

Breastfeeding at birth Breastfeeding at 8weeks

Breastfeeding at 4months

Per

cent

age BBC Area

Edwinstowe

Ollerton

Chart to show breastfeeding rates across 3 different areas July - September 2003

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

Breastfeeding at birth Breastfeeding at 8weeks

Breastfeeding at 4months

Per

cent

age BBC Area

Edwinstowe

Ollerton

Future Evaluation Work

• Focus groups with members of Sure Start to further explore reasons behind feeding decisions

• Interviews with Peer Counsellors from the Sure Start area

• Cost-effectiveness exercise to determine the added value of Sure Start services