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Breastfeeding: Addressing Health Disparities Through Policy Initiatives

This article discusses the importance of breastfeeding in reducing health disparities associated with poverty, education, and race/ethnicity. It explores the role of breastfeeding in preventing diseases and promoting optimal infant nutrition. The article also highlights the need for evidence-based breastfeeding policies and practices to increase exclusive and extensive breastfeeding rates.

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Breastfeeding: Addressing Health Disparities Through Policy Initiatives

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  1. Public Health Breastfeeding Policy Initiative Breastfeeding Matters April 7, 2010 Jonathan E. Fielding, MD, MPH, MBA Director of Public Health and Health Officer L.A. County Department of Public Health

  2. Chronic Disease & Health Disparities • Health disparities are associated with: • Poverty • Education • Race/Ethnicity • Breastfeeding has a role to play in disease prevention and addressing health disparities 2

  3. Breastfeeding evens the playing field Breastfeeding is a natural "safety net" against the worst effects of poverty...It is almost as if breastfeeding takes the infant out of poverty for those first few months in order to give the child a fairer start in life and compensate for the injustice of the world into which it was born. James P. Grant Former Executive Director UNICEF 3

  4. Why is breastfeeding important? Exclusive and extensive breastfeeding reduces the risk for many diseases.

  5. Breastfeeding: Important for BabiesRisk Differences for Various Disease Acute Chronic Source: Ip, AHRQ, 2007

  6. Breastfeeding Reduces the Risk of Childhood Obesity • Leptin, ghrelin, adiponectin play a role • Infants self-regulate at the breast • Different maternal behavior • Reduced risk for early growth acceleration • Other variables • Reduces the risk of obesity by 4% for each month of exclusive breastfeeding Ip, AHRQ, 2007 Dewey, JHL, 2003 Miralles, Obesity, 2006

  7. Breastfeeding Reduces the Risk of Childhood Obesity Exclusive BF for 3 to 6 months is associated with reduced risk for childhood overweight Not a panacea, but the start of our obesity prevention efforts BF promotion has become an important component in larger efforts to reduce childhood obesity

  8. Breastfeeding: Important for MothersRisk Differences of Various Disease Ip, AHRQ, 2007

  9. Breastfeeding =Optimal Infant Nutrition Good public health outcomes are associated with: • extensive breastfeeding • exclusive breastfeeding 9

  10. Public Health Breastfeeding Policy Initiative • Increase exclusive and extensive BF rates • Baby Friendly Hospital designation • LAC DHS committed, bringing along others • Evidence based approach • Buy-in from the top • Convening regional quality improvement • Collaborative approach • Multidisciplinary team 10

  11. California Any and Exclusive In-Hospital Breastfeeding: 1994-2007 The “GAP” is Growing 11 Data Source: California Department of Public Health, Genetic Disease Screening Program, Newborn Screening Database 1994-2007 Prepared by: California Department of Public Health, Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health Program Note: Includes cases with feeding marked ‘BRO’ (Breast Only), ‘FOO’ (Formula Only), or ‘BRF’ (Breast & Formula)

  12. Percent Any/Exclusive In Hospital Breastfeeding: 2007 Gap 12

  13. Maternity Care Policy & Practices • The maternity care experience exerts unique influence on both breastfeeding initiation and later infant feeding behavior • Breastfeeding is an extremely time-sensitive relationship • Experience with breastfeeding in the first hours and days of life significantly influence an infant’s later feeding

  14. Evidence-Based Interventions • Significant evidence that changes in maternity care at the institutional level can increase breastfeeding initiation, exclusivity, and duration • CDC recommends bringing key decision makers together to address the importance of evidence-based breastfeeding practices Source: Shealy 2005

  15. We look forward to your partnership on this important Public Health issue.

  16. Works Cited • California Department of Public Health, Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health Program. “California Department of Public Health, Genetic Disease Screening Program, Newborn Screening Database, 1994-2007.” Available at: http://www.cdph.ca.gov/DATA/STATISTICS/Pages/BreastfeedingStatistics.aspx • Dewey KG. Is breastfeeding protective against child obesity? J Hum Lact 2003;19(1):9-18. • Ip S, Tufts-New England Medical Center. Evidence-based Practice Center., United States. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. Breastfeeding and maternal and infant health outcomes in developed countries. Rockville, MD: U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality; 2007. • Miralles O, Sanchez J, Palou A, Pico C. A physiological role of breast milk leptin in body weight control in developing infants. Obesity (Silver Spring) 2006;14(8):1371-7. • Shealy KR, Li R, Benton-Davis S, Grummer-Strawn LM. The CDC Guide to Breastfeeding Interventions. Atlanta: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Available at: http://www.cdc.gov/breastfeeding/pdf/breastfeeding_interventions.pdf

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