275769
Latch on NYC - limiting infant formula supplementation in breastfed infants at NYC hospitals
Wednesday, November 6, 2013
: 9:06 a.m. - 9:24 a.m.
Lorraine Boyd, MD, MPH,
Bureau of Maternal, Infant and Reproductive Health, NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Long Island City, NY
Marta Kowalska, MPH, CLC, CPH,
Bureau of Maternal, Infant and Reproductive Health, NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Long Island City, NY
Amber Ahmad, MPH, CLC,
Bureau of Maternal, Infant and Reproductive Health, NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Long Island City, NY
Latch On NYC is a voluntary citywide initiative run by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH), Bureau of Maternal, Infant and Reproductive Health (BMIRH), to implement policy changes in 28 of 40 maternity hospitals to support mothers who choose to breastfeed and reduce formula supplementation to breastfed infants. This initiative has two components: 1. Hospital commitment to limit infant formula promotion and 2. Public awareness campaign on the benefits of breast milk. Hospitals who volunteered to participate in Latch On NYC have agreed to: 1. Enforce the New York State hospital regulation NYS regulations, N.Y. COMP. CODES R. & REGS. tit. 10, µ 405.21(f)(3)(i)(b)(3) (2009), to not supplement breastfeeding infants with formula unless medically indicated or at the mothers request and documented on the infant's medical chart, 2.Restrict access to infant formula, track infant formula distribution and share aggregate data on formula distribution with the Health Department, 3.Discontinue the distribution of promotional or free infant formula, and 4.Prohibit the display and distribution of infant formula advertising or promotional materials in any hospital location. Latch On NYC initiative was launched in May 2012 with hospital kick-off in September 2012 for 28 of 40 maternity hospital that volunteered to participate. Indicators were developed to measure the success of the initiative and are being tracked overtime. Hospitals submit monthly data on the number of eligible births and number of infant formula bottles. The public awareness campaign on the benefits of breast milk included hospital posters and subway and online advertisements. Hospitals also received promotional materials to substitute for infant formula company promotional goods. Hospital needs assessment was done to assess hospital readiness and need for technical assistance. Ongoing technical assistance includes Latch On NYC list serve, distribution of breastfeeding and promotional materials, individual calls and webinars.
Learning Areas:
Implementation of health education strategies, interventions and programs
Planning of health education strategies, interventions, and programs
Public health or related public policy
Learning Objectives:
Describe New York City's Latch On NYC initiative.
Define data measures used in Latch On NYC initiative.
Discuss Latch On NYC outcomes.
Keyword(s): Breastfeeding, Maternal and Child Health
Presenting author's disclosure statement:Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: Marta Kowalska is the Breastfeeding-Initiative-Manager at the Bureau of Maternal, Infant and Reproductive Health (BMIRH), NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) since 2008. She has a MPH in Community Health Education from Hunter College (CUNY), BS is Biology from City College (CUNY) and is a Certified Lactation
Counselor (CLC). Ms. Kowalskaâs current responsibilities include but are not limited to, the management/oversight of all breastfeeding-related activities for the
BMIRH, including Latch On NYC.
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.
