Comprehensive education program - The basis for the promotion of breastfeeding

In the 1950s and 1960s the fall in the number of children being breastfed and the shortening of the length of time babies were breastfed reached almost pandemic proportions, and caused UNICEF and the WHO to initiate activities aimed at protecting, promoting and encouraging breastfeeding. Aware of the key role of knowledge and health consciousness and the role of the health services and workers, the WHO and UNICEF launched their new familiar campaigns: In 1989 they published their "10 steps to successful breastfeeding" which presented the main activities needed to organize adequate information and support for breastfeeding mothers. In 1990 the WHO and UNICEF, in cooperation with other international organizations, adopted the Innocenti Declaration in Florence on the protection and promotion of breastfeeding. In 1991 the "Baby-Friendly Hospital" campaign was launched. Maternity wards who applied the "10 steps to successful breastfeeding" could, after assessment, be awarded the title of "Baby-Friendly Hospital". In 1992 there were 52 hospitals in the world who had earned this title and in 1997 there were more than 13.000 in 117 countries. The breastfeeding rate in Croatia was very low and during the war there was a further fall in the number of breastfed babies. In contrast with the conventional wisdom that the survival instinct would cause a rise in the number of children being breastfed, we saw that the war actually had a negative influence on the length of time children were breastfed. Thanks to the support of UNICEF, in 1993 a national breastfeeding promotion program was initiated in Croatia. First there was a systematic and planned program of education for health workers. After this there came a program to educate pregnant women, since the decision to breastfeed or not is made by the woman before or particularly during pregnancy. Several press conferences were held to use the media to influence the general mood in society to offer support for breastfeeding. The results of these educational activities show that the number of children breastfed has risen significantly, starting on the maternity wards. Of a total of 32 maternity wards in Croatia, today 15 bear the title "Baby-Friendly Hospital" which, in terms of percentagesm is right behind the Scandinavian countries, Sweden (where all maternity wards are "baby-Friendly") and Norway. The "Baby-Friendly Hospital" program has led to the broadening of the program to a "Child-Friendly Hospital" campaign and a new "Child-Friendly Town/District" program is being drawn up at this moment.