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Interim report of the National Committee on Breastfeeding
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| Title: | Interim report of the National Committee on Breastfeeding |
| Authors: | Department of Health (DoH). Health Promotion Unit |
| Publisher: | Department of Health (DoH). Health Promotion Unit |
| Issue Date: | May-2003 |
| URI: | http://hdl.handle.net/10147/246576 |
| Type: | Report |
| Language: | en |
| Description: | A review of the 1994 National Breastfeeding Policy is an important component of the Terms of
Reference under which the National Committee on Breastfeeding was established in March 2002
and this Interim Report from the Committee to the Minister for Health and Children, Mr. Micheal
Martin TO, represents an important advancement towards the fulfilment of this objective.
This review has been informed by the broad range of expert opinions represented within the
membership of the Committee, together with submissions. In addition to providing information on
the impact of the targets and recommendations in the 1994 Policy, proposals for future action
have been put forward and these will inform the next stage of the Committee's work.
All contributors to this review process considered the 1994 National Breastfeeding Policy an
excellent template for action that has stood the test of time in its continued relevance. While the
impact of the targets and recommendations set down in the 1994 Policy are shown to have fallen
short of expectations in some areas, its very existence provided a new focus on breastfeeding that
has generated many valuable opportunities to highlight breastfeeding issues. This new focus has
also had a major impact on the quality of breastfeeding support for mothers and babies within the
health services and a greater respect for the value of voluntary mother-ta-mother support services
offered by organisations like La Leche League of Ireland and Cuidiu-Irish Childbirth Trust.
Ireland now has a National Breastfeeding Coordinator and a Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative. Most
maternity units have a breastfeeding policy. Clinical midwife specialists in breastfeeding are being
appointed in relevant areas of the health services and these are coordinating and spearheading
changes in breastfeeding practices in accordance with the best available research evidence. Many
health professionals attend update courses in breastfeeding. These and many other positive
initiatives have come about as a direct result of the advancements enabled by the 1994 National
Breastfeeding Policy.
The fundamental changes advocated in the 1994 Policy take time to have effect and regrettably
Ireland still has the lowest breastfeeding initiation rates in Europe. The latest available figures
show that only 36.97% of Irish mothers currently commence breastfeeding which is indicative of
the challenge presented by the objective of ensuring that the majority of babies born in Ireland
enjoy the great benefits offered by breastfeeding. |
| Keywords: | BREASTFEEDING
POLICY FORMULATION
HEALTH PROMOTION |
| Appears in Collections: | DOH
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