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This section may be utilized by policy makers interested in developing strategies that create a positive breastfeeding environment.
Breastfeeding is the only health promotion strategy that has an impact on all humans with health implications that last a lifetime, and crosses every social, cultural and economic system.
“WHO and UNICEF jointly developed The Global Strategy for Infant and Young Child Feeding to revitalize world attention to the impact that feeding practices have on the nutritional status, growth and development, health, and thus the very survival of infants and young children.”
This section contains information regarding the Baby- Friendly Initiative.
"Overall, breastfeeding policy tends to undermine mothers as it encourages breastfeeding within a context of widespread detrimental hospital practices, the intensification of the direct marketing of infant formula, and hostility to public breastfeeding. Even when appropriate practical supports are available (e.g. knowledgeable health care providers and lactation consultants), they suggest that breastfeeding is a difficult task that requires expert intervention."Nathoo, Tasnim, and Ostry, Aleck The One Best Way? Breastfeeding History, Politics, and Policy in Canada 2009 Wilfred Laurier Press
The WHO/UNICEF International Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes aka “the Code” protects all babies.
What constitutes a breech of “ the Code”? Learn more...
Current statistics provides a snapshot of breastfeeding in the province of Alberta.
The Health Information Standards Committee for Alberta (HISCA) oversees and coordinates the development, adoption and dissemination of approved health information, data and technology standards within Alberta.
Informative, evidence based handouts complete with references Available for download and distribution to professionals and consumers.
"Breastfeeding confers extensive and well-established benefits and is recognized as an extremely effective preventative health measure for both mothers and babies. Except in very few specific medical situations, breastfeeding should be universally encouraged for all mothers and infants. To improve worldwide breastfeeding initiation and duration rates, the WHO and UNICEF launched the Baby-Friendly Initiative (BFI) in 1991. The goal was to protect, promote and support breastfeeding by adherence to the WHO’s “Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding”. Since then, more than 20,000 hospitals in 156 countries have achieved Baby-Friendly status, with a resultant increase in both breastfeeding initiation and duration. Still, only 500 hospitals are currently designated Baby-Friendly in industrialized countries, including 37 health centres or health authorities in Canada. Health care practitioners have a unique and influential role in promoting and supporting breastfeeding. Provincial and territorial government leadership is essential to ensuring implementation of the BFI in all health care facilities delivering services to families with young children."
Canadian Pediatric Society, June 2012
Links in this document are intended to serve as a reference list of resources on breastfeeding. The ABC does not endorse any product, web page or resource materials with the exception of all of the WHO and UNICEF Global Initiatives, the Baby-Friendly Initiative, Innocenti Declaration the International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes and subsequent WHA Resolutions, and the national documents from the Breastfeeding Committee for Canada.
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Copyright © 2012 Alberta Breastfeeding Committee
