Scaling Up Breastfeeding Programs in Mexico: Lessons Learned from the Becoming Breastfeeding Friendly Initiative

Abstract

BackgroundGiven the magnitude of the health and economic burden of inadequate breastfeeding practices in Mexico, there is an urgency to improve breastfeeding practices to increase the health and well-being of children and mothers. The Becoming Breastfeeding Friendly (BBF) Toolbox was recently developed to guide countries in assessing their readiness to and progress with scale-up of breastfeeding protection, promotion, and support and to develop policy recommendations to high-level decision makers.ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to document the BBF process in Mexico, which led to evidence-based recommendations for policymakers to improve breastfeeding protection, promotion, and support in the country.MethodsWe followed the BBF methodology. First, a group of experts, with the use of scientific and gray literature, face-to-face interviews, and their own experience, analyzed and assigned a score to each of the 8 gears from the BBF index and identified scaling-up gaps on the basis of the Breastfeeding Gear Model. Then, we developed and presented evidence-based recommendations to improve breastfeeding protection, promotion, and support.ResultsMexico's BBF score was 1.4 out of a maximum total of 3 points, which indicates that there is a low to moderate scaling-up environment to protect, promote, and support breastfeeding. None of the gears were rated as “outstanding,” and the legislation and policies gear was the only one rated as strong.ConclusionsThe BBF initiative is a useful tool for assessing the environment for breastfeeding. The Mexican environment for breastfeeding is weak. On the basis of these results, it is strongly recommended to raise national awareness on breastfeeding, incorporate the Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes in the Mexican legislations, extend maternity leave to 6 mo, and strengthen evidence-based advocacy and hence the political will that is needed to secure stable funding and resources for a successful national strategy for the protection, promotion, and support of breastfeeding in Mexico.

Lactation and maternal risk of diabetes: Evidence from the Mexican Teachers' Cohort

“…Recently, a group of experts assessed the environment for breastfeeding in Mexico. Their results indicate that there is a need to strengthen evidence‐based advocacy to increase the political will that is needed to secure stable funding and resources for a successful national strategy for protection, promotion, and support of breastfeeding in Mexico (González de Cosío, Ferré, Mazariegos, & Pérez‐Escamilla, ). Furthermore, the National Academy of Medicine of Mexico recently issued a position statement calling for strong governmental commitment to develop an effective national breastfeeding programme (González de Cosio, Hernandez‐Cordero, Rivera‐Dommarco, & Hernandez‐Avila, ).…”

Development and pretesting of “Becoming Breastfeeding Friendly”: Empowering governments for global scaling up of breastfeeding programmes

“…BBF was implemented in Ghana (lower‐middle‐income country; The World Bank Group, ; Aryeetey et al, ) between June 2016 and February 2017 and Mexico (upper‐middle‐income country; The World Bank Group, ) between May 2016 and March 2017 (González de Cosío, Ferré, Mazariegos, & Pérez‐Escamilla, ). During this time, the BBF toolbox and operational manual underwent extensive testing.…”

Violations of the International Code of Marketing of Breast‐milk Substitutes in Mexico

“…Infant formula, solid food, or local beverages are commonly introduced soon after birth (Swigart et al, ). On the other hand, even though Mexico has a National Strategy to protect, promote, and support breastfeeding (Secretaría de Salud, ), there is still a low to moderate scaling‐up environment for breastfeeding in Mexico (González de Cosío, Ferré, Mazariegos, Pérez‐Escamilla, & BBF Mexico Committee, ). Specifically, for legislation despite Mexican legislation incorporates many Code provisions (WHO & UNICEF, ), there is no published information about compliance.…”