Breastfeeding promotion programs
Program basics
- Provide education and information about breastfeeding to women throughout prenatal and postnatal care
- Often support and encourage breastfeeding among women in the workplace through various programs
- Offer counseling from health care providers or trained volunteers as well as support groups for nursing mothers
- Engage in legal and social advocacy for breastfeeding activities
Strength of evidence
Evidence level: Proven (highest tier)
?
Proven (highest tier)
Ranked as having the highest level of evidence by County Health Rankings and Roadmaps
Target population
Parents with children under the age of 5
Program cost
Not available
Implementation locations
- Nationwide
Dates active
Not available
Outcomes and impact
- Increases in the number of children who are breastfed
- Reduces ear, lower respiratory, and gastrointestinal infections in infants
- Lower likelihood of childhood obesity, Type 2 diabetes, and asthma in children
- Reduces risk of breast and ovarian cancer in mothers
- Lower rates of maternal hypertension, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease
Keys to successful implementation
- Note: This content is under review
- Successful programs aim to reduce breastfeeding barriers that women face, both publicly and privately.
- Partnerships with employers enable better support for breastfeeding mothers, often by creating spaces to pump and store breast milk.
- Informational initiatives around breastfeeding in hospitals, maternity clinics, and early care facilities can improve understanding and persistence in new mothers.
- Pairing breastfeeding initiatives with peer counseling and nutrition programs can provide additional support to new mothers.
- Public health legislation that allows for breastfeeding in public reduces cost of and barriers to breastfeeding.
