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Scaling up breastfeeding policy and programs in Samoa

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dc.contributor.author Soti-Ulberg1, Christina
dc.contributor.author Hromi-Fiedler, Amber
dc.contributor.author L. Hawley2, Nicola
dc.date.accessioned 2021-12-14T01:38:48Z
dc.date.available 2021-12-14T01:38:48Z
dc.date.issued 2020
dc.identifier.citation https://doi.org/10.1186/s13006-019-0245-6 en_US
dc.identifier.uri ${sadil.baseUrl}/handle/123456789/2320
dc.description 11 pages : PDF en_US
dc.description.abstract Background: Breastfeeding is a critical, evidence-based intervention that addresses malnutrition, improves early childhood development outcomes, and influences long-term maternal and infant health by reducing the noncommunicable disease risk. Scaling up breastfeeding is an indisputably strong action countries can take to prevent suboptimal maternal and infant health outcomes. The Becoming Breastfeeding Friendly (BBF) initiative assists countries with scaling up breastfeeding policy and programs. BBF has been successfully implemented within Latin America, Africa, Europe and South-East Asian regions. This study assessed its application in Samoa. Methods: In 2018, BBF was implemented in Samoa by a 20 member committee of breastfeeding experts who participated in collecting and utilizing national level data to score the degree of friendliness of Samoa’s breastfeeding environment, identify gaps, and propose policy recommendations to address those gaps. This eightmonth process resulted in a public event where priority recommendations were widely disseminated to decision makers and actions agreed upon. Results: The total BBF Index score for Samoa was 1.6 out of 3.0, indicating a moderate breastfeeding friendly environment for scaling up policies and programs that protect, promote, and support breastfeeding. Gear total scores indicated that seven of the eight gears were moderately strong within Samoa, while the eighth gear, funding and resources, was weakest in strength. Six prioritized recommendations emerged: 1) development and implementation of a National Breastfeeding Policy and Strategic Action Plan; 2) strengthening monitoring and evaluation of all breastfeeding activities; 3) ratifying the International Labour Organization’s Maternity Protection Convention 2000 (No 183); 4) identifying high-level advocates to champion and serve as role models for breastfeeding; 5) creation of a national budget line for breastfeeding activities; and 6) hiring of a national breastfeeding coordinator and trainer. Decision makers demonstrated commitment by signing the breastfeeding policy for hospitals ahead of the BBF dissemination meeting and electing to move forward with establishing lactation rooms within government ministries. Conclusion: Implementation of BBF in Samoa yielded important policy recommendations that will address current gaps in national level breastfeeding support. The BBF consultation process can be successfully applied to other countries within the Western Pacific region in order to strengthen their breastfeeding programs. en_US
dc.language.iso en en_US
dc.publisher International Breastfeeding Journal en_US
dc.subject Breastfeeding, Samoa, Becoming Breastfeeding Friendly, Scaling up en_US
dc.title Scaling up breastfeeding policy and programs in Samoa en_US
dc.type Article en_US


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