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Int. J. Gynecol. Obsfet., 1990,31(Suppl. 1): 145-146 International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics
Technical Working Group C Report: Breastfeeding promotion in health and health-related programs Moderator: Jeff Spieler Co-moderator: Kimberly Aumack Rapporteur: Dina Nathusius
Summary
The purpose of this working group was to design a general strategy for the development of activities in non-maternity health settings and in health-related programs. The working group proposed that all sectors of society, which have any direct or indirect contact with women of childbearing age, should be approached to advocate breastfeeding. Seven sectors were outlined with suggestions for action. Discussion In the health sector, there are existing groups with infrastructures already established that should have a breastfeeding component: oral rehydration therapy (ORT); growth monitoring (GM); family planning (FP); food assistance programs; early infant well baby clinics; stimulation courses; immunization; teenage mother clinics; and childbirth classes, for example. In the education sector, curricula should be adjusted at every level, from pre-kindergarten through university level courses. The most important would be to assure that young children are aware of breastfeeding and that it is a normal part of life. The primary school level should have simple, non-technical messages to support breastfeeding. This effort is 0020-7292/90/$03.50 0 1990 International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics Published and Printed in Ireland
particularly important in countries where the majority only attend schooling for about four to six years. Other places that should include material on breastfeeding would be at professional meetings, in journals, and newsletters. In the community sector, like the health sector, existing structures should be used. One effective area includes mothers’ support groups, such as La Leche League. There are other types of women’s groups, religious organizations, consumer associations, etc. The private sector, too, can be made sensitive to the needs and benefits of breastfeeding. Factory-based services and daycare centers, unions, Chambers of Commerce, and social clubs are possibilities. Stores, shopping facilities, and airports, for example, must be able to provide places where mothers can breastfeed conveniently. The media comprise another sector that can provide very important support for breastfeeding. Breastfeeding should be marketed in the same way as bottle feeding. Subtler forms of communication as well should promote breastfeeding. Media people, such as those in the motion picture and television industries, must be made sensitive to the issues of infant feeding and how it is portrayed in their story lines. In California there is a media watch organization that monitors whether, for instance, bottles are shown in Health carepractices related to breastfeeding
146
Working group reports
diaper advertisements and looks out for other ways in which breastfeeding could be shown as the normal way of feeding, providing feedback to industry and media. Again, the infrastructure already existing in national and international organizations should be used. Service organizations such as the Rotary Club and the Lions can be addressed. Finally, the public sector is essential for successful promotion. To that end, legislation should be passed, monitored, and enforced. Every nation should develop a breastfeeding policy using World Health Organization (WHO) and United Nations Children’s Fund
ht J Gynecol Obstet 31(Suppl I)
(UNICEF) guidelines. They should create a multisectoral commission with power and a clear mandate such as has already been successful in several countries. There must be a definite budget which can support a fulltime administrator and a technical person, in order to assure continuity. These staff should form a breastfeeding center to develop consistent message content and use indigenous expertise. These sectors all provide potential opportunities for breastfeeding promotion. To get their cooperation however requires giving them information about breastfeeding benefits as they relate to each sector’s specific needs and issues.
Int. J. Gynecol. Obsfet., 1990,31(Suppl. 1): 145-146 International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics
Technical Working Group C Report: Breastfeeding promotion in health and health-related programs Moderator: Jeff Spieler Co-moderator: Kimberly Aumack Rapporteur: Dina Nathusius
Summary
The purpose of this working group was to design a general strategy for the development of activities in non-maternity health settings and in health-related programs. The working group proposed that all sectors of society, which have any direct or indirect contact with women of childbearing age, should be approached to advocate breastfeeding. Seven sectors were outlined with suggestions for action. Discussion In the health sector, there are existing groups with infrastructures already established that should have a breastfeeding component: oral rehydration therapy (ORT); growth monitoring (GM); family planning (FP); food assistance programs; early infant well baby clinics; stimulation courses; immunization; teenage mother clinics; and childbirth classes, for example. In the education sector, curricula should be adjusted at every level, from pre-kindergarten through university level courses. The most important would be to assure that young children are aware of breastfeeding and that it is a normal part of life. The primary school level should have simple, non-technical messages to support breastfeeding. This effort is 0020-7292/90/$03.50 0 1990 International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics Published and Printed in Ireland
particularly important in countries where the majority only attend schooling for about four to six years. Other places that should include material on breastfeeding would be at professional meetings, in journals, and newsletters. In the community sector, like the health sector, existing structures should be used. One effective area includes mothers’ support groups, such as La Leche League. There are other types of women’s groups, religious organizations, consumer associations, etc. The private sector, too, can be made sensitive to the needs and benefits of breastfeeding. Factory-based services and daycare centers, unions, Chambers of Commerce, and social clubs are possibilities. Stores, shopping facilities, and airports, for example, must be able to provide places where mothers can breastfeed conveniently. The media comprise another sector that can provide very important support for breastfeeding. Breastfeeding should be marketed in the same way as bottle feeding. Subtler forms of communication as well should promote breastfeeding. Media people, such as those in the motion picture and television industries, must be made sensitive to the issues of infant feeding and how it is portrayed in their story lines. In California there is a media watch organization that monitors whether, for instance, bottles are shown in Health carepractices related to breastfeeding
146
Working group reports
diaper advertisements and looks out for other ways in which breastfeeding could be shown as the normal way of feeding, providing feedback to industry and media. Again, the infrastructure already existing in national and international organizations should be used. Service organizations such as the Rotary Club and the Lions can be addressed. Finally, the public sector is essential for successful promotion. To that end, legislation should be passed, monitored, and enforced. Every nation should develop a breastfeeding policy using World Health Organization (WHO) and United Nations Children’s Fund
ht J Gynecol Obstet 31(Suppl I)
(UNICEF) guidelines. They should create a multisectoral commission with power and a clear mandate such as has already been successful in several countries. There must be a definite budget which can support a fulltime administrator and a technical person, in order to assure continuity. These staff should form a breastfeeding center to develop consistent message content and use indigenous expertise. These sectors all provide potential opportunities for breastfeeding promotion. To get their cooperation however requires giving them information about breastfeeding benefits as they relate to each sector’s specific needs and issues.
