Responding to international research showing that early introduction of common food allergens can reduce the chance of developing allergies, in 2016 the Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy (ASCIA) revised allergen introduction guidelines, recommending earlier introduction of allergens to infants in their first year. Australia has high food allergy rates, and limited understanding of adherence to allergen introduction guidelines, especially in rural areas. This project explored rural parent adherence to ASCIA guidelines.
This was a mixed method cross sectional study using an online survey including multiple-choice and qualitative short answer responses. The sample were 336 women from two rural health districts in New South Wales. All were aged 18 or over, and either pregnant or had delivered a baby since July 2018. Descriptive statistics were used to measure behavioural alignment with the recommended guidelines, thematic analysis was used to analyse attitudes and explanations.
In 84.3% of children, feeding adhered to all four guidelines studied, including no elimination of allergens during pregnancy (98%), age of introduction of solids (97.7%), continuation of breast milk/cow\'s milk formula during introduction of solids (95%), and age of introduction of allergens (92.9%). Adherence was not significantly correlated with the education (X2 = 17.9, P = .056), prior history of allergy [neither mother (X2 = 0.945,P = .623) nor previous children (X2 = 0.401,P = .818)], or primary care received during pregnancy. More than 90% of participants agreed or strongly agreed that the guidelines are realistic, trustworthy, and important for the health of their child. However, thematic analysis revealed that parents\' perceptions of a child\'s individual progress, and medical conditions or other circumstances, such as challenges with breastfeeding, will often take precedence over adherence to specific guideline recommendations.
High rates of adherence with ASCIA guidelines found here are comparable with findings from metropolitan studies and encouraging for future population health. Participant comments on the guidelines imply to rural policymakers that there are multiple influences on parent decisions about infant feeding, often including parents\' own intuition and experiences. Further studies to improve understanding of the role of information, carers, and other influences on parent decision-making concerning feeding attitudes and behaviours will be necessary to optimise adherence in rural areas.

Preoperative fasting period is the prescribed time prior to any procedure done either under general anaesthesia, regional anaesthesia or sedation, when oral intake of liquids or solids are not allowed. This mandatory fasting is a safety precaution that helps to protect from pulmonary aspiration of gastric contents which may occur any time during anaesthesia. We searched PUBMED for English language articles using keywords including child, paediatric, anaesthesia, fasting, preoperative, gastric emptying. We also hand searched references from relevant review articles and major society guidelines. Association of Paediatric Anaesthesiologists of Great Britain and Ireland (APAGBI), the French Language Society of Paediatric Anaesthesiologists and the European Society of Paediatric Anesthetists recommends clear fluid intake upto one hour prior to elective surgery unless specific contraindications exists. Current guidelines recommend fasting duration of 4 hours for breastmilk, 6 hours for milk and light meals and 8 hours for fatty meals. The European Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism (ESPEN) guidelines recommend that oral intake can be initiated within hours of surgery in most patients. While fluids can be started almost immediately, the introduction of solids should be done more cautiously.

BACKGROUND: It is unknown whether population infant feeding practices have changed since recently revised Australian allergy guidelines removed recommendations to delay allergenic solids.
OBJECTIVE: We sought to determine whether updated 2008 guidelines were associated with changes in feeding practice and to determine whether sociodemographic factors influenced this response.
METHODS: In a population-based, cross-sectional study (HealthNuts) of 5276 infants recruited between 2007 and 2011 in Melbourne, Australia, parents reported on infant feeding practices. Multinomial logistic regression was used to investigate the associations between recruitment year and feeding practices and whether these associations were modified by sociodemographic factors.
RESULTS: Compared with participants recruited in 2007-2009, those recruited in 2009-2011 were more likely to introduce solids at age 4 months (adjusted multinomial odds ratio [aMOR], 1.21; 95% CI, 1.02-1.45; P = .032) and less likely to introduce solids at age 6 months (aMOR, 0.80; 95% CI, 0.69-0.92; P = .002), egg after 6 months (aMOR, 0.82; 95% CI, 0.71-0.94; P = .004), and peanut after 12 months (aMOR, 0.70; 95% CI, 0.49-0.98; P = .037). Although parents recruited in 2009-2011 were less likely to formula feed (aMOR, 0.84; 95% CI, 0.72-0.98; P = .023), formula-fed infants were more likely to be given a partially hydrolyzed formula (aMOR, 1.37; 95% CI, 1.12-1.70; P = .003). These changes were significantly stronger among families with a higher socioeconomic status and those without a family history of allergies.
CONCLUSIONS: Updated national allergy guidelines are associated with reduced delay in introduction of solids, egg, and peanut and an increase in partially hydrolyzed formula use among formula-fed infants. Higher socioeconomic status and absence of family history of allergies were associated with better uptake of feeding guidelines.