| The
Department of Health Services (DHS) promotes breastfeeding
as the superior way to feed infants. It is a priority
of the Department to promote, protect, and support
breastfeeding among all Californians as the most
healthy and preferred method of infant feeding for
at least the first years of life. DHS has a vital
role and a responsibility to create a supportive
public environment in order to encourage breastfeeding
as the cultural norm. |
|
|
BACKGROUND
|
| Breastfeeding
is the preferred method of infant feeding |
Breastfeeding is
acknowledged as the preferred method of infant feeding
by the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American
Dietetic Association, the American College of Obstetrics
and Gynecology, the American Public Health Association,
and the National Healthy Mothers/ Healthy Babies
Coalition. |
| |
|
| Year
2010 health objectives |
The U.S. Department
of Health and Human Services has identified breastfeeding
promotion as a high-priority health objective for
the nation. The Year 2010 health objective sets
a goal of increasing to at least 75 percent the
proportion of women who breastfeed their babies
in the early postpartum period, 50 percent the proportion
who continue breastfeeding until their babies are
five to six months old, and 25 percent the proportion
who continue breastfeeding until their children
are one year of age. To work toward these goals,
DHS must advocate breastfeeding so women have the
ability to make informed decisions about infant
feeding and support for their decisions. |
| |
|
| DHS
mission and goals |
Breastfeeding promotion
is important to the Department's mission "to
protect and improve the health of all Californians."
Breastfeeding particularly applies to the following
Department goals: |
| |
|
| |
PROMOTING DISEASE PREVENTION |
| |
|
| |
Breastfeeding promotion
clearly supports the Department's goal to "develop
and implement initiatives that systematically attack
the underlying causes of preventable disease or
hazardous conditions." Breastfeeding provides
the following health benefits decreasing the incidence
of certain preventable conditions: |
| |
|
| |
Women:
Breastfeeding promotion will
enhance existing Department efforts to reduce cancer
incidence since breastfeeding reduces the risk for
certain cancers. For example, the longer a woman
breastfeeds, the more she reduces her risk for developing
not only breast but also ovarian and cervical cancer.
Women who breastfeed are also less likely to develop
osteoporosis, a major preventable health condition. |
| |
|
| |
Infants:
Human milk provides a boost
to the immune system. A breastfeeding woman reduces
the risk of her child developing Type I insulin
dependent diabetes mellitus, sudden infant death
syndrome (SIDS), certain childhood cancers, lower
respiratory infections, ear infections, baby bottle
tooth decay, and a host of other illnesses. |
| |
|
| |
In DHS, preventive
health programs target chronic diseases such as
breast and ovarian cancers, diabetes and osteoporosis.
In addition, the Maternal and Child Health Branch
targets funding to reduce infant mortality and morbidity.
Success in promoting breastfeeding can augment the
efforts of these prevention programs. Increasing
the incidence and duration of breastfeeding should
become a part of DHS' strategy for dealing with
these public health concerns. |
| |
|
| |
CLOSING GAP IN HEALTH STATUS |
| |
|
| |
Another Department goal is to
"close the gaps in health status and access
to care among the States' diverse population subgroups."
Successful breastfeeding promotion can affect this
effort. Data from California's Newborn Screening
Program shows that although 80 percent of all California
mothers choose to breastfeed, only 62 percent of
African American mothers initiate breastfeeding.
In contrast, nearly 85 percent of White and 80 percent
of Latino women initiate breastfeeding. According
to the Executive Director of United Nations International
Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF) "Breastfeeding
is a natural safety net against the worst effects
of poverty." Breastfed infants are four times
less likely to suffer from diarrheal diseases or
to contract infections causing meningitis. Breastfed
infants also have a 60 percent lower risk for ear
infections and an 80 percent decreased risk for
lower respiratory infections. Increased breastfeeding
rates in these populations could narrow the gap
in health status for their infants. |
| |
|
| |
SAVING HEALTH CARE COSTS |
| |
|
| |
Breastfeeding promotion will allow
the Department to ensure cost-effective use of health
care resources. The cost savings of breastfeeding
due to reduction in illness, associated medical
visits and hospitalization for infants and their
mother are important for health care programs. It
has been estimated that two to four billion health
care dollars could be saved annually in the United
States if all women breastfed their infants for
as little as 12 weeks. (This estimation of savings
does not include money saved by families not buying
artificial baby milk nor the cost savings related
to the environmental benefits of breastfeeding.)
Looking only at ear infections, infants who are
exclusively breastfed for at least four months are
half as likely as artificially fed infants to have
ear infections during the first year of life. Fewer
visits to physicians for ear infection offer tremendous
savings in time, money, and emotional trauma for
families and the health care system. |
| |
|
| A
breastfeeding policy is crucial |
Given the benefits
of breastfeeding in the prevention of chronic diseases
and other conditions, the improved health outcomes
for at-risk populations, and the economic benefits
for families and the health care system, a DHS policy
actively advocating breastfeeding is crucial. |
| |
|
| Infant
feeding choice is an important public health issue |
Breast milk is superior to artificial baby milk
(or formula). The Department must take an active
role in encouraging California's mothers to make
an informed choice about infant feeding since
bottle feeding does not offer infants the same
benefits as breastfeeding. A mother's choice whether
or not to breastfeed is important to public health
prevention efforts---just as the choice to stop
smoking during pregnancy or the choice to immunize
a child are individual decisions having significant
public health impact.
Some women may experience discomfort at being
informed that the choice to formula feed is not
in the best health interests of their child. Also,
because of the linkage of the breast with sexuality
in our society, some individuals or groups may
be uncomfortable with promoting breastfeeding.
Nonetheless, it is the Department's responsibility
to provide scientifically-based leadership that
improves the health of mothers and babies
|
| |
|
| Barriers
to breastfeeding |
Numerous barriers to breastfeeding have been
identified:
- Lack of knowledge about breastfeeding among
health care professionals.
- Lack of knowledge about breastfeeding among
the general population.
- Lack of consistent and accurate information
about breastfeeding.
- Hospital practices which are not supportive
of breastfeeding. These include formula discharge
packets, hospital feeding schedules, early discharge,
and unavailability of rooming-in.
- Lack of a support network during the critical
postpartum period.
- Psychosocial barriers including misconceptions,
negative attitudes, lack of confidence, and
lack of support in the work place.
- Cultural barriers including sexual connotations
associated with the breast and/or lack of role
models or family support.
- The ready availability and conspicuous display
of infant formula and formula advertising in
hospitals and public health programs.
|
| |
|
|
Breastfeeding policy is important beginning |
Despite these barriers
to breastfeeding, breastfeeding promotion initiatives
have increased the rates of breastfeeding, especially
among low-income women. Many more women would choose
to breastfeed their infants if they were given an
opportunity to make an informed choice and the support
to successfully follow through. A DHS breastfeeding
promotion policy can serve as a driving force to
develop innovative strategies and partnerships to
address these barriers to breastfeeding in order
to improve the health of women and children in California. |
| |
|
| Printer
Friendly Page |
