Breastfeeding in Europe: a blueprint for action

Abstract

The protection, promotion and support of breastfeeding are a public health priority throughout Europe. Low rates and early cessation of breastfeeding have important adverse health and social implications for women, children, the community and the environment; they result in greater expenditure on national health care provision and increase inequalities in health. Extensive experience clearly shows that breastfeeding can be protected, promoted and supported only through concerted and coordinated action. The Blueprint for Action, written by breastfeeding experts representing all European Union and associated countries and the relevant stakeholder groups, including mothers, is a model plan that outlines the actions that a national or regional plan should contain and implement. It incorporates specific interventions and sets of interventions for which there is an evidence base of effectiveness. Under six headings—policy and planning; information, education and communication; training; protection, promotion and support; monitoring; research—the Blueprint recommends objectives for all these actions, identifies responsibilities, and indicates possible output and outcome measures. It is hoped that the application of the Blueprint will achieve a Europe-wide improvement in breastfeeding practices and rates (initiation, exclusivity and duration); more parents who are confident, empowered and satisfied with their breastfeeding experience; and health workers with improved skills and greater job satisfaction.