240928 Reducing Barriers to Worksite Breastfeeding: Implementing a Worksite Lacation Program

Sunday, October 30, 2011

Amanda Graves, CHES , Population Based Services/ Communities Putting Prevention to Work, San Antonio Metropolitan Health District, San Antonio, TX
Introduction: San Antonio Metropolitan Health District (Metro Health) is part of the Communities Putting Prevention to Work (CPPW) initiative addressing the obesity epidemic. In response to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) 2010, CPPW will incorporate a systems and environment change to promote breastfeeding among City employees. Breastfeeding is strongly associated with maternal and child health benefits, including the reduction of developing childhood obesity, which can progress into adult obesity.

Methods: Metro Health is working with the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) and the City of San Antonio Employee Wellness Department to adopt a policy for employers defining the guidelines set by the Fair Labor and Standards Act (n=11,000). Facility managers have been solicited to inspect and recommend rooms in approximately twelve (12) Metro Health locations around San Antonio that would be suitable for becoming lactation rooms. Rooms will be designed based on DSHS Mother Friendly Worksite Designation criteria. Select rooms will be provided with a hospital grade breast pump and a refrigeration unit.

Results: Baseline and Post implementation questionnaires will be collected to determine knowledge, attitude, beliefs and practicality of use at the administrative and staff level. Lactation room utilization will be evaluated by determining the number of mothers intended and/or currently breastfeeding and lactation room usage.

Conclusion: This Initiative will contribute to the research currently available as it pertains to worksite lactation. Utilizing the PPACA and DSHS guidelines as a framework, Metro Health will serve as a support for other organizations and businesses to replicate.

Learning Areas:
Implementation of health education strategies, interventions and programs
Planning of health education strategies, interventions, and programs
Public health or related organizational policy, standards, or other guidelines

Learning Objectives:
1.Describe the strategies used to incorporate a worksite lactation program for local governmental agencies through the implementation of lactation rooms.

Keywords: Breast Feeding, Lactation

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: N/A

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am qualified to present because I am a Certified Health Education Specialist with San Antonio Metropolitan Health District, currently working on the Communities Putting Prevention to Work grant and I oversee the Worksite Lactation Initiative.
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.

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