Policy, Power and Politics in Healthcare Provision

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Running Head: Policy, Power and Politics in Healthcare Provision
POLICY, POWER AND POLITICS IN HEALTHCARE
PROVISION

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Policy, Power and Politics in Healthcare Provision
Table of Contents
Introduction......................................................................................................................................2
Significance of the policy problem..................................................................................................2
Importance of breastfeeding on health............................................................................................2
Significant statistics.........................................................................................................................3
Reason for choosing this policy.......................................................................................................3
Summary of the policy.....................................................................................................................3
1. Demonstration of understanding of policy issues........................................................................4
a. Formulation of the problem.........................................................................................................4
2. Evidence of critical discussion and analysis................................................................................5
b. Identify decision parameters.......................................................................................................6
c. Identified alternatives...................................................................................................................7
Conclusion.......................................................................................................................................8
Recommendations............................................................................................................................9
References......................................................................................................................................11

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Policy, Power and Politics in Healthcare Provision
Introduction
Significance of the policy problem
The chosen policy aims to administer a uniform breastfeeding policy across Australia in order to
safeguard the health and welfare of both the mother and child. The issue has gained a large
proportion as many mothers are negligent towards breastfeeding. It has been observed that about
96% of Australian mothers begin breastfeeding. However, only 15% of them continue to feed
their babies exclusively breast milk (Ncbi, 2017). According to policy and guidelines set out by
WHO, it has been announced that a baby must be fed only breast milk for the first six months.
Infants who are not fed breast milk adequately or for the desired period of time, often contract
infectious diseases. Moreover, the chances of such babies being formula fed before the 6 months
have more chances to acquire type 1 and type 2 diabetes, obesity and even leukaemia. Barring
the child to nurse themselves is also dangerous for lactating mothers (Health, 2019). Such
mothers are more likely to develop premenopausal cancer, ovarian cancer and other metabolic
syndromes.
Importance of breastfeeding on health
A new-born baby is completely dependent on their mother’s milk, not only for sustenance but
also for protection against various infectious diseases as well. The milk is a rich source of all
nutrients that the infant needs in a form that can be easily digested and assimilated by the baby.
Breast milk contains other biological agents that have anti-infective properties (Breastfeeding,
2016). A neonatal lacks the ability and the agents to protect or combat diseases. A major
constituent of breast milk is immunoglobin that when ingested by the baby, coats the intestinal
mucosa (Ncbi, 2017). This acts as a barrier against various microbes present in food and does not
allow them from entering the cells. It also has white blood cells which are directly consumed by
the baby and helps to fight against minor diseases and infections. Breast milk also has bile salt
that allows the bay to digest fats ingested from another source (Health, 2019). The baby is
prevented from its ability to protect itself from diseases and also receive the nutrition that can be
utilised for growth.

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Policy, Power and Politics in Healthcare Provision
Significant statistics
It was noticed that the rate of cases where breastfeeding was initiated at the required age.
However, the problem arises as breastfeeding is not continued until 6 months or is proceeded
along with other formula-based substances. According to WHO, exclusive breastfeeding up to
the age of 6 months is highly desired to maintain the health of the child (Who, 2019). Thereafter,
breastmilk should be fed up to the age of two years along with other complementary foods. Only
69% of the infants were recorded to be able to depend solely on breastmilk by the age of 4
months whereas only 39% were only fed breastmilk. 40% of the infants were started to be fed
formula-based food by the age of 1 month (Health, 2019). It was seen that the tendency to start
feeding complementary food other than breastmilk was higher among mother aged above 35,
mothers with higher education and with higher income (Ncbi, 2017).
Reason for choosing this policy
The policy was chosen as it was found to be the most well written and researched. It was clearly
well arranged and the steps that were to be undertaken were clearly presented. The research was
also backed by relevant resources that were also looked into for gaining a better understanding of
the policy. Moreover, the policy is the latest one with context to the chosen issue. The steps
enlisted were first undertaken in 1995 and the latest one was in 2018. The policy and frameworks
provide a very clear picture of the issue which is easy to follow along. The literature presented is
concise and relevant.
Summary of the policy
The policy clearly delineates the statistics which set out the situation in context to the need to
promote breastfeeding. The policy is set out by the Australian Department of Health for the year
2018. It presents the salient points related to breastfeeding which mainly go over the issue of
increased infant mortality rates because of lack of being breastfed. It also notes that the WHO
code of the International Code of Marketing Breast Milk Substitutes is not enforced legally in
Australia (Consultations, 2018). Hence, various companies are allowed to sell and advertise
complementary food products even though it is going to promote mothers to stop exclusively