Posted Date: 9/1/2008
Visalia. A report issued this week for the year 2007 by the University of California at Davis Human Lactation Center and the California WIC Association ranks California hospitals in terms of new mothers who breastfeed while in the hospital.
The analysis reveals differences in rates between the hospitals in the LA area, the Central San Joaquin Valley and the rest of the state. Hospitals in these areas have a low rate of exclusive breastfeeding in the hospital at the time of childbirth. The report shows that when hospitals improve their newborn feeding policies and practices the breastfeeding rates increase.
Tulare County's exclusive breastfeeding rates, while lower than the state average, are improving .Currently all Tulare County hospitals are involved in a staff training program called Birth and Beyond California, through the California Dept. of Public Health and California Health Collaborative. This education teaches staff the latest research to increase exclusive breastfeeding and how to change hospital policy and practice to achieve this. Tulare County is the first county to have 100% of its hospitals involved in this training. All the hospitals and community agencies will be using the same information, the same language and establishing the same standard of care.
The Tulare County Breastfeeding Coalition is very active, working to increase the community's awareness of the positive benefits of breastfeeding for the baby, mom and the community. All the hospitals, clinics, and WIC communicate on a regular basis, sharing information about barriers to breastfeeding in our community, failures, successes and changing policies to increase the standard of breastfeeding education. Local WIC offices are also involved and are emphasizing pre and postnatal breastfeeding encouragement and support. Research shows breastfeeding has a positive effect on decreasing the number of cases of diabetes and obesity, two big health problems in our communities. "We are all in this together. This is really a public health issue in our communities and one that we are confident that we will turn around" according to Susan Kordell, Kaweah Delta Maternal Child Health Community Outreach Coordinator and Tulare County Breastfeeding Coalition member.
For further information, please contact Susan Kordell at 624-6012 or Linda Sward, Tulare County WIC at 591-5826
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