The UNICEF UK Baby Friendly Initiative Briefing Paper 2009

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Introduction The Baby Friendly Initiative, launched in the UK in 1994, is a worldwide programme of the World Health Organization and UNICEF. In the UK, the Baby Friendly Initiative works with the National Health Service (NHS) to ensure a high standard of care for pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers and babies in hospitals and community health settings. It provides support for health-care facilities to implement best practice in caring for mothers and babies, and offers an assessment and accreditation process that recognises those that have achieved the required standards. Having ratified the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, the UK Government is obliged to ensure that “all segments of society…are informed, have access to education and are supported in the use of basic knowledge of …the advantages of breastfeeding” as set out in Article 24 on the right of the child to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health 9 . Further to this, in their 2008 Concluding Observations and Recommendations, the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child called on the UK Government to “implement fully the International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes and further promote baby-friendly hospitals.” The onus is therefore on the Government to help ensure that breastfeeding information and support is available to everyone 10 . This paper highlights the range of factors that influence breastfeeding in the UK and outlines how the work of the Baby Friendly Initiative is helping to improve the health of the UK. 9. Article 24 (e) of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child www.unicef.org.uk/publications/pdf/uncrc.pdf 10. UN Committee on the Rights of the Child (2008) UK Concluding Observations. www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/crc/docs/AdvanceVersions/ CRC.C.GBR.CO.4.pdf 4 The UNICEF UK Baby Friendly Initiative Improving the health of the UK
Benefits of breastfeeding “I cannot express enough how impressed and delighted I was by the midwives. The confidence and knowledge of the staff helped me avoid common problems like sore nipples and I am still breastfeeding my healthy baby boy 12 weeks later.” Mother who gave birth in January 2009 at the UNICEF UK Baby Friendly accredited Royal Surrey Hospital in Guildford There is a wealth of published evidence 11 that demonstrates the profound health benefits for both mothers and children that breastfeeding provides. Breastfed babies are less likely to suffer from a range of conditions such as: • Gastroenteritis • Chest infections • Eczema • Ear infections • Diabetes in childhood • Childhood obesity • Childhood leukaemia • Sudden Infant Death Syndrome 12 The evidence indicates that the longer a baby is breastfed the greater the protection from ill health they gain and the more positive the impact on their long-term health. In comparison to a baby fed on infant formula, a breastfed baby is five times less likely to be hospitalised with gastroenteritis 13 and on average will visit the doctor 15 per cent less 14 . Breastfeeding has also been shown to: - Increase neurological and cognitive development - Lower blood pressure 15 11. See www.babyfriendlyorg.uk/research for the latest developments. 12. Ip S, et al (2007) Breastfeeding and Maternal Health Outcomes in Developed Countries. AHRQ Publication No. 07-E007. Rockville, MD: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. 13. Howie PW, Forsyth S, et al (1990) Protective effect of breast feeding against infection, British Medical Journal: 300:11-16 14. McConnachie A et al (2004) Modelling consultation rates in infancy: influence of maternal and infant characteristics, feeding type and consultation history. Br J Gen Pract: 54: 598–603. 15. Horta B.L. et al (2007) Evidence on the long-term effects of breastfeeding. WHO 16. Strathearn L, Mamun AA, Najman JM et al (2009) Does breastfeeding protect against substantiated child abuse and neglect? A 15-year cohort study. Pediatrics Vol. 123; 483 17. Ip S, et al (2007) Breastfeeding and Maternal Health Outcomes in Developed Countries. AHRQ Publication No. 07-E007. Rockville, MD: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. 18. Department of Health (2008) Healthy Weight, Healthy Lives: A Cross-Government strategy for England. London: The Stationery Office www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publichealth/Healthimprovement/Obesity/ HealthyWeight/index.htm 19. Department of Health (2008) Health Inequalities: Progress and Next Steps. London: The Stationary Office www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/Pub licationsPolicyAndGuidance/DH_085307 20. Department of Health (2004) Breastfeeding and the NHS Priorities and Planning Framework www.dh.gov.uk/en/Healthcare/Maternity/ Maternalandinfantnutrition/DH_4071692 21. HM Government (2008) PSA Delivery Agreement 12: Improve the health and wellbeing of children and young people. www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/d/pbr_csr07_psa12.pdf Furthermore, breastfeeding helps secure the bond between mother and child, with recent studies showing a reduced risk of maternal neglect amongst breastfeeding mothers 16 . Breastfeeding provides health benefits for mothers too, as women who breastfeed have a reduced risk of postnatal depression and of ovarian and breast cancer in later life 17 . Reducing health inequalities Evidence on the health benefits of breastfeeding has led government policy makers in the UK to encourage breastfeeding as the best way of ensuring a healthy start for children. In particular, breastfeeding has been recognised as playing an important role in helping to deliver government targets on obesity 18 and health inequalities 19 . As part of the Government’s commitment to reduce health inequalities, a target was set, through the NHS Priorities and Planning Framework 20 , to increase breastfeeding initiation rates by 2 per cent annually amongst mothers who are least likely to breastfeed. The Department of Health is monitoring progress towards achieving this target by measuring the prevalence of breastfeeding at 6 to 8 weeks in all primary care trusts 21 . The UNICEF UK Baby Friendly Initiative Improving the health of the UK 5
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