206534 Enabling Optimal Infant Feeding Through Research, Teaching and Advocacy: The Carolina Breastfeeding Institute

Tuesday, November 10, 2009: 9:30 AM

Miriam Labbok, MD, MPH, FACPM, IBCLC, FABM , Carolina Global Breastfeeding Institute, Department of Maternal Child Health, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC
Emily C. Taylor, MPH, CD(DONA), LCCE , Carolina Global Breastfeeding Institute, Department of Maternal and Child Health, School of Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC
Brook Colgan, MPH , Carolina Global Breastfeeding Institute, Department of Maternal Child Health School of Public Health, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC
Sheryl W. Abrahams, MPH , Department of Maternal and Child Health, School of Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC
Mary Rose Tully, MPH, IBCLC , Carolina Breastfeeding Institute, Department of Maternal Child Health School of Public Health, Univeristy of North Carolina Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC
     
The Carolina Breastfeeding Institute (CBI) was founded in 2006 in the UNC Department of Maternal and Child Health to create an environment in which every mother is supported to achieve optimal infant and young child feeding. Details of the CBI's experience are provided as an example of how an academic center within a school of public health may promote, protect and support breastfeeding at the community, state and global levels through translational research, graduate education and issue advocacy. CBI research activities have focused on assessing current breastfeeding-related practices and policies and creating the evidence base for change, including identification of barriers to exclusive breastfeeding, evaluation of the impact of the Baby-friendly Hospital Initiative, analysis of impact of optimal breastfeeding on child outcomes in NC, and evaluation of breastfeeding-friendly workplace policies. Within the UNC School of Public Health, CBI faculty/ teaching assistants enhance graduate training through a survey course in infant and young child feeding and an independent study in infant feeding research methods. At the state and national levels, the CBI provides informational support to various advocacy efforts, including efforts led by the North Carolina Breastfeeding Coalition and the Breastfeeding Subcommittee of the NC Child Fatality Task Force.

Learning Objectives:
At the end of this session, attendees will be able to: 1. Describe the approach of the Carolina Breastfeeding Institute to promoting, protecting and supporting optimal infant feeding at the community, state and global levels. 2. Identify ways in which an academic center devoted to optimal infant feeding issues may support and enhance graduate education in public health. 3. Identify ways which an academic center may support advocacy work on behalf of optimal infant feeding.

Keywords: Breast Feeding, Maternal and Child Health

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have served as the Director of the Carolina Breastfeeding Institute since its founding in 2006. I hold degrees in medicine and public health, with additional training in epidemiology and breastfeeding medicine, and have 30 years of research and program experience in maternal and child health, family planning and nutrition. I have published or presented over 300 academic articles, abstracts, chapters and invited lectures.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

See more of: Breastfeeding: Developing Community Support
See more of: Maternal and Child Health