Policy Power and Politics on Health Care Provision

This policy analysis focuses on the breastfeeding policy and its impact on public health. It discusses the benefits of breastfeeding for babies, mothers, and the environment, as well as the political issues that influence nursing practices. The policy proposes urgent action for breastfeeding across the globe and identifies alternatives for breastfeeding. The government and stakeholders have the responsibility to pass laws that increase the availability of mothers’ milk to infants.

Running Head: POLICY POWER AND POLITICS ON HEALTH CARE PROVISION 1
POLICY POWER AND POLITICS ON HEALTH CARE PROVISION
Name
Institution Affiliation

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Policy power and politics on health care provision
Breastfeeding policy
Background of the breastfeeding policy
Breastfeeding policy is an issue of public health concern. It should be taken with a lot of
seriousness because of the importance it brings with it to the health of communities and people
within them (Meedya, Fahy&Kable, 2010). These benefits would include the baby, the mother,
and for the environment.
Benefit for the baby
Breast milk helps babies to supply all the necessary nutrients needed by the baby in the
right proportions; breast milk protects babies against obesity, sickness, and allergies. Breast milk
helps in defending the body from diseases such as diabetes and cancer, infections such as ear
infections; it prevents from diarrhea, constipation, and upset stomach due to the easiness of
digestion(Le Huërou-Luron, Blat &Boudry, 2010). Breastfeeding also helps babies to grow with
a healthy weight, as well as increasing IQs in children(Patki, Kadam, Chandra &Bhonde, 2010).
Breastfed remains the perfect food for your baby because it changes in volume, and composition
depending on the time of the day, the age of the baby and nursing frequency hence promoting
healthy growth at each stage of the baby (Schmied, Gribble, Sheehan, Taylor & Dykes, 2011).
Ready and good for the environment
Breast milk has been proven to be the freshest, always at the right temperature, clean and
always free, and has no waste hence good for the environment. Breast milk is always available

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wherever you are and whenever the baby requires it (Schmied, Gribble, Sheehan, Taylor, &
Dykes, 2011).
Benefit to mothers
Mothers who breastfeed their children in the right manner have the lowest risks of type 2
diabetes and some cancers like breast cancer (Kids, 2011). Mothers practicing the right
breastfeeding have the highest benefit of getting to their normal weight before they got pregnant
as well as being able to strengthen their relationship with their children (Meedya, Fahy&Kable,
2010).
Generally, breastfeeding has not only important to the baby's health in disease prevention
but also to the breastfeeding mother as it has anti-inflammatory and unparalleled immunological
properties. According to a summary published by the Agency for Healthcare Research and
Quality (AHRQ) 2007, Babies who are exclusively fed with breast milk within the first six
months are more advantageous than formula-fed infants since a formula-fed infant has been
associated with infections such as diarrhea and ear infections (Meedya, Fahy&Kable, 2010). The
further report state that that ear infection risk is 100 percent among those who are formula-fed
than those who are exclusively fed within their first 6 months.
This breastfeeding report is important because of economic benefit it has to the families,
private and government insurers, employers, and the nation in general. This is by a study done in
more than one decade ago that stated that families that practice good breastfeeding save over
$1,200–$1,500 in the first year alone (Patki, Kadam, Chandra, & Bhonde, 2010).
1. Policy Analysis

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Politics plays an important role in influencing breastfeeding policies and nursing practices
(Howes et al., 2017). Politicians can make policies that affect nursing practice, nursing
environment and nursing workforce. Their decisions affect nursing policies and change.
Political issues are government based and they dictate how the breastfeeding is practiced
within any country. Sometimes policy making depends on what the political class get from it.
The economic effects of breastfeeding influence the decision on policy making. If the
breastfeeding reduces risks related to economic losses, the policy makers will be encouraged
to make laws that encourage breastfeeding and vice versa (Howes et al., 2017). This means
with the right information regarding economic losses or gain policy makers will be
influenced to make changes or make new policies. For instance, if lack of breastfeeding is
increasing the hospitalization, then the policy likely to be made will focus on restricting
people from not breastfeeding.
Some social beliefs that consider colostrum milk as dirty or curdled milk, bad omen or curse
may discourage breastfeeding in some cultures where there is fear of an evil eye during
breastfeeding (Freeman, 2014). This is mostly feared when engaging in extra marital affairs.
An evil eye is associated with breastfeeding in public and women are made to believe
witchcraft may work against their babies (Freeman, 2014). The fear of sagging breast is also
another cultural believe associated with breastfeeding for long discouraging young mothers
who want to have “sharp” breasts.
Policy issues
Children just like mothers have a problem with breastfeeding which is mostly associated
with prematurity or being small or anatomical issues affecting their feeding (Arroyo et al., 2010).

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Mothers on the other hand have expressed difficulties in breastfeeding which are associated with
nipple and breast pain or inadequate milk supply. They complain of their infant having slow
weight gain, runny stools, and fussiness with breastfeeding (Arroyo et al., 2010). The American
public health association has recognition of a long time that, scientific evidence showing that
human milk as the most appropriate food for all human infants without forgetting the barriers
towards achieving this impropriety through breastfeeding (Baker & Greer, 2010). Breastfeeding
has been a norm and maintaining it is the most preventive health care measure (Taylor, Lim, &
Neville, 2010). There are various reasons that make breastfeeding rates to not to reach
recommended levels by the major health authorities across the globe and united states, and they
include social, political, economic, education, political and institutional reasons (Kervin, Kemp
& Pulver, 2010). Since there are increasing evidence of risks associated with lack of
breastfeeding like chronic diseases like in mothers and their babies, and also repeated
advertisement on alternative milk for babies this policy proposes urgency of taking action for
breastfeeding across the globe. Also as new findings post risks associated with breastfeeding like
HIV and environmental contaminants through breast milk, NSW should update her breastfeeding
policy lastly addressed in 2006(Kids, 2011).
Population surveys from NSW show that rates of breastfeeding remain far below the
recommendations of WHO and NHMRC(Hector, Hebden, Innes-Hughes & King, 2013).
Mothers and infants have increased risks of ill health, obesity, and other chronic diseases mostly
due to duration and exclusivity as per the existing evidence(Han, Lawlor&Kimm, 2010). There is
a high expectation of increased cost to individuals, government, and the society and health
systems as a result of these health risks combined with the environmental impact of
breastfeeding formula (Kervin, Kemp &Pulver, 2010).

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Evidence of critical discussion and analysis
This project has a goal of ensuring there is a framework of action that will help increase
promotion, support of breastfeeding and protection of breastfeeding across NSW and Australian
health system (Hector, Hebden, Innes-Hughes & King, 2013). The factors that influence the rate
of breastfeeding across NSW and the globe as a whole are many (Kids, 2011).
The goals and objectives of this policy are to:
 To find out whether there are alternatives for breastfeeding which offers the same
benefits to infants and mothers as breast milk
 To increase the number of women who practice proper breastfeeding to their infants
 To ensure that there is a reduction of infant feeding on other drinks or foods before a6
months period of their first year (“exclusive breastfeeding”).
Decision parameters
Resources
Mothers and children breastfeeding experience is a learning experience for both (King,
Brucker, Fahey, Kriebs & Gegor, Eds.2015). Though breastfeeding is natural, there is a need for
right support to make breastfeeding go smoothly. Some of these supports may include:
Support Groups: there are organizations that help with breastfeeding support, and they
include Pregnancy and Parenting Network and Australia Breastfeeding Association(Wen, Baur,
Rissel, Alperstein & Simpson, 2009).

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Breastfeeding Education: there are courses that are supposed to help starters to get
breastfeeding knowledge, and they are; Breastfeeding Education Course and Private
Breastfeeding Course(Dyson et al., 2010).
Professional Help: there are lactation consultants who give insights to mothers on, the art
of breastfeeding, help mothers to develop and increase mothering skills, and provide with
recurrent mothering support system for the kind and mother (Meedya, Fahy&Kable, 2010).
Australia and other international links have several associations for peak breastfeeding which
may include and not limited to: Australian Breastfeeding Association, College of Lactation
Consultants Victoria, Association of Breastfeeding Mothers, Baby Milk Action,
Breastfeeding.com, International Lactation Consultant Association, Lactation Consultants of
Australia and New Zealand Ltd (LCANZ), and La Leche League International(Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention, CDC.2013).
Timeframes
The policy will be effective as from 2018 to 2022 with a mid-term review done in 2020
to assess its effectiveness and achievements. The Australian government should recognize that
the World Health Organization recommends continuous breastfeeding for not less than six
months without any other drinks or solid food (exclusive breastfeeding). This helps your baby to
gain colostrum from your milk important for fighting illness (Han, Lawlor & Kimm, 2010). It
also helps the baby to have a functional digestive system, which does its work smoothly as well
as helping it have its first immunization. After the sixth month, the combination of breastfeeding
with other solid foods and drinks can be administered for 2 years, but breastfeeding is optional
for depending on the family (Han, Lawlor&Kimm, 2010).

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Priorities for breastfeeding
Each problem will be identified and considered with regards to the following priorities
assumptions whether to:
(i) Shift the focus from initial decision‐making towards support for mothers throughout their
feeding journeys, enabling and protecting decisions to breastfeed as one aspect of ongoing
support
(ii) To promote the concept of an early‐weeks investment and adjustment period during which
breastfeeding is established; and
(iii) To develop more proactive mother-centered models of support for all forms of infant
feeding.
Alternatives for breastfeeding
Experts across the globe recommend breast milk as the best for the infant and the best gift
given by mothers to their babies (Hector, Hebden, Innes-Hughes & King, 2013). American
Academy for Pediatrics (AAP), World Health Organization, and American medical association
(AMA) argue that breastfeeding helps the baby's body develop a defense against infections,
protect against chronic diseases, and prevent allergies (Al-Sahab, Lanes, Feldman & Tamim,
2010). The methods proposed as alternatives for breastfeeding are two Formula feeding and
donor milk(Eidelman et al., 2012). Formula feeding has challenges in that; it cannot match the
complexity of breast milk since breast milk can change as the baby grows which cannot be
manufactured(Dyson et al., 2010). There is no formula yet that matches breast milk
complexity(Dyson et al., 2010). Formula feeding also lacks antibodies contained in the breast

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milk(Grøvslien&Grønn, 2009). Using this alternative cannot provide the baby with the added
protection against infection among other challenges (Eidelman et al., 2012). Donor milk is
commonly practiced in the countries like the United Kingdom, India, and Brazil. Donor milk is
where a woman gives her excess milk to mothers who are not able to breastfeed, and it is done
after done goes through a screening and blood tests (Binns, Fraser, Lee & Scott, 2009). Greer a
pediatrician who has researched on infants' nutrition since the 1970s say, recommends Formula
feeding as the best alternative for breast milk citing cost-effectiveness and accessibility (Bartick
& Reinhold, 2010). While on the other hand Anne EglashUW–Madison family physician argues
that Donor milk has more advantages like breast milk compared to Formula feeding. Greer states
that neither the Donor Milk nor Formula Feeding has the ability of Breast Milk since "The
immune system boost inherent to breastfeeding is tied to each mother and baby’s environment.”
He also adds that donor milk varies compared to the nutritional value of the donor foods
(Eidelman et al., 2012).
Lobby groups for alternative breastfeeding
These are the groups advocating for alternative breastfeeding and they include; Pregnancy and
Parenting Network and Australia Breastfeeding Association, environmentalists, politicians,
human rights groups, physicians like Eglash, pediatricians like Greer, etc.
Recommendation
The government and other stakeholders have the responsibilities to pass laws that
increase the availability of mothers’ milk to infant to raise an independent, health generation
with the energy required to drive the country in the global fronts (Weber, Janson, Nolan, Wen

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&Rissel, 2011). These laws should focus on limiting the breastfeeding for not less than 6 months
as recommended by major health professional organizations.
Mothers should be made aware of the health risks of failure to breastfeed their infant for the
recommended time in order for them to breastfeed their children properly.
Conclusion
Breastfeeding is an important public issue that raises hot debates among health experts and
health organizations of the world in recent times as opposed to traditional times when it was just
natural to breastfeed. Though there are debates concerning whether to breastfeed on not to, there
is no clear alternative that matches the exact benefits and composition of breast milk. Breast milk
offers several benefits that even the alternative proposers agree with including protecting
children from chronic diseases, obesity, asthma, arthritis and fighting against other illness.
Mothers should strive to ensure that they breastfeed their babies for the WHO recommended
period to avoid incurring the cost of illness during hospitalization, insurance, and also get the
maximum benefit associated with the psychological wellness of their body and that of their
children. Resources for breastfeeding mothers are available across Australia and in other
countries where mothers can seek guidance where they need them.

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