|
Focus on fathers for Breastfeeding Awareness Week
The Health Promotion Agency for Northern Ireland (HPA) is making fathers the focus of Breastfeeding Awareness Week this year to highlight the importance of dad’s role in supporting their partner as this can have a major impact on a mother’s decision to breastfeed.
Breastfeeding Awareness Week has been running nationally since 1993 and this year the HPA has produced a number of materials specifically with men in mind in recognition of the importance of fathers’ and family support for a breastfeeding mum. New posters and a leaflet developed especially for fathers, What dads should know about breastfeeding, have been produced to give dads the facts about breastfeeding and how they can support their partner if she decides she wants to feed her baby this way.
The new information for fathers was highlighted during a celebratory event in Parliament Buildings organised by the HPA and the DHSSPS Regional Breastfeeding Strategy Implementation Group. The event was attended by over 100 guests including health professionals, MLAs, voluntary breastfeeding counsellors, breastfeeding support workers and groups, Sure Start workers as well as a number of mums, dads and babies.
Speaking during the event, Janet Calvert, Regional Breastfeeding Coordinator for the HPA, said: “This work follows on from the evaluation of the HPA’s public information campaign which showed there was an increase in knowledge about the importance of breastfeeding in relation to health benefits such as fewer infections and allergies. This increase was most notable among prospective fathers, and has the potential to improve breastfeeding outcomes, since a partner’s knowledge and attitude to breastfeeding is important in sustaining the mother’s decision to breastfeed. In fact in the UK nine out of ten mums stop breastfeeding before they want to due to lack of support and preventable breastfeeding problems.¹ Other findings showed that fathers of previously bottlefed children may be reluctant to support a future decision from their partner to breastfeed.²”
Research shows that breastfeeding gives a baby the best possible start in life because breast milk provides a lot more than just nourishment; it is both food and medicine. Breastfed babies are less likely to suffer from ear, chest and kidney infections, gastroenteritis, childhood obesity, diabetes, eczema and asthma. This is due to special components in breast milk which boost the immune system. Research also indicates that mums who breastfeed are helping to reduce their risk of developing breast and ovarian cancer, osteoporosis and Type 2 diabetes.
Janet continued: “We know from recent research that breastfeeding rates for Northern Ireland mums have increased by almost 10%, rising from 54% in 2000 to 63% in 2005. While we still have a lower breastfeeding rate than England, Scotland and Wales, the increase over this period was greater in Northern Ireland than anywhere else in the UK, and shows a positive upward trend. This is very good news but there is still more work to be done.³”
The leaflets and posters will be distributed to maternity units and community healthcare facilities and can also be obtained from central health promotion resource services in each health and social services board area. Further information on breastfeeding can be found by visiting www.breastfedbabies.org
END
Notes to the editor:
There will be a media facility in the Long Gallery, Parliament Buildings, on Monday 14 May from 11.45am – 12.15pm when Janet Calvert, HPA, Dr Michael McBride, Chief Medical Officer, and a number of mums and dads will be available for interview.
1. The UK Infant Feeding Survey 2000. Hamlyn et al, May 2002.
2. Health Promotion Agency for Northern Ireland. Examining changes in knowledge and attitudes towards breastfeeding in Northern Ireland 1999–2004.Belfast: HPA, November 2006.
3. Infant Feeding Survey 2005 commissioned for Northern Ireland by the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety.
For media enquiries contact:
Jenny Dougan or Rosie McGaughey at the HPA on 028 9031 1611.
|
