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Coalition calls on pediatricians to promote breastfeeding through advocacy
Monday, October 13 2008 | Comments
What's This?
By Yvonne PoindexterA novel partnership between a physician and a nonprofit organization is promoting the role of pediatricians as breastfeeding advocates.
Noting that Philadelphia ranks 10th in breastfeeding among the 10 largest cities in the United States, with a breastfeeding initiation rate of 53%, Dr. Esther Chung, of the Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children partnered with the city's Maternity Care Coalition (MCC) to involve pediatricians in efforts to promote breastfeeding through education, support, and advocacy. Dr. Chung's goal is to bring Philadelphia's breastfeeding initiation rate up to or above the Healthy People 2010 goal of 75% initiation.
The partnership's efforts include the creation of a statewide initiative, the Pennsylvania Breastfeeding-Friendly Workplace Collaborative. Working in conjunction with the Pennsylvania Breastfeeding Coalition and the MCC, Dr. Chung and her colleagues hope to raise awareness about the role employers play in protecting and supporting breastfeeding. The group recognizes existing businesses that support breastfeeding through awards, and recruits new businesses that see the value of creating policies that support breastfeeding employees. Dr. Chung and other advocates have also met with local and federal legislators to promote workplace legislation related to breastfeeding. The partnership also aims to increase the number of maternity hospitals that have a breastfeeding policy.
Dr. Chung highlighted the partnership's work and called on pediatricians to collaborate with community groups to promote breastfeeding. She presented a list of steps physicians can take to advocate on their own or in conjunction with others: Write articles and letters to the editor on breastfeeding topics for local and national newspapers, speak on local radio shows, speak with community groups, stay informed about lobbyists who are working against breastfeeding, and communicate with legislators.
"This partnership … has increased our capacity to advocate for breastfeeding support and promotion," concluded Dr. Chung.
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