Breast-feeding is one of many areas where the ministry monitors DHB performance, and the SDHB had not achieved the national target for 70% of infants to be exclusively or fully breast-feeding at 3 months old.
"Unfortunately, initiatives rolled out to date do not appear to be having the desired impact as Southern’s breast-feeding rates have been almost static since 2015," a report from the ministry to the DHB said.
"New and innovative initiatives are required to markedly improve your breast-feeding rates, not only for Maori and Pacific infants, but for your entire population."
In Southern, 63% of infants were exclusively or fully breast-feeding at 3 months, a figure which was 56% for Maori and 58% for Pacific children.
The national total population average was 59%.
The SDHB response to the ministry pointed out low breast-feeding rates were not just a regional but a national problem, and said it would welcome being invited to be involved in any New Zealand-wide discussions.
"We will also raise the issue with the Child and Youth South Island Alliance to try and share learnings at a regional level."
The SDHB has a wide range of breast-feeding support schemes in place, which include antenatal breast-feeding support classes, a peer support programme, an app which provided basic breast-feeding education, and three breast-feeding networks across the region.
A community pilot breast-feeding support contract had been signed with the Pacific Trust Otago, and Public Health South had advocated for breast-feeding support in workplaces and public spaces.
"The Southern district is interested in introducing innovative initiatives to improve breast-feeding rates, and the ministry feedback will be a topic of discussion for an upcoming district-wide breast-feeding hui," the board response said.
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Comments
Maybe it is time to be more honest about the dangers of cows milk products. Cows milk is promoted as a health product but it is not, infact the majority of the population are known to have adverse effects from consuming dairy. Baby milk powder is formulated and manufactured, it doesn’t come close to matching the health benefits of breast milk. Cow’s milk, from which most formula is made, meets the specific needs of calves. It’s not safe for human babies to drink, so has to be processed intensively when made into formula for infants. “In fact, in the early 1980s, cow’s milk was known to be toxic to laboratory animals such as rabbits or rats. These days, if any compound is toxic to a laboratory animal it’s not pursued in drug studies. So, by today’s standards, they wouldn’t have been allowed to make formula!".
Add in the environmental benefits of breast milk? With no intensive farming, animal cruelty, factory emissions, transportation or packaging involved, breastfeeding is better for the planet as well as for you and your baby.
Do you have any reputable source to support your claim that "the majority of the population are known to have adverse effects from consuming dairy"? I would be willing to accept that a small minority have adverse effects but for such a bold claim I would expect that you have solid proof.
Breastfeeding peer support and antenatal breastfeeding classes are an initiative provided and funded by WellSouth, not the DHB. Some peer support services are independent charities.