Breastfeeding through Early Education

The superiority of breast feeding is globally recognized; however, problems with the type of infant feeding, once started, still exist. Different studies over the past five years, including our local study show that health care personnel influence the choice to breast feed in only 10-12% of cases. Breast feeding advocates therefore conduct seminars to increase the knowledge base and lactation skills of residents, consultants, nursing staff and lactation counsellors. Residents’ training programs and even Medical Schools are incorporating breastfeding in their Curriculum.
In 1996, selected members of the Alay Gatas Committee of PCMC embarked on what they believe to be a more effective approach –that of early education of the future parents. The team lectured on the benefits of breastfeeding to a cross section of Philippine Science Students (two sections per year level), after a Pretest. The Pretest was designed to test knowledge about breast feeding, and to discover misconceptions and attitudinal defects. A Post Lecture Test was given on the same day.
The results of the tests revealed that some misconceptions the students had before the lecture were corrected. Some remarked that this was not their concern at present. It was also learned that majority of the students who attended the lecture had been breastfed. However, when it came to the question of whether they would breastfeed or encourage their future wives to breastfeed their children the students had varying answers. their worries included sagging of breasts and going to work. Although the lecture showed them that breastfeeding was best for the baby, it was not enough to convince them that it was the thing to do.
The outcome of the study was presented in a Research Seminar conducted at the DOH August 2, 1996. Follow-up sessions on the why, how and what of breastfeeding were given by the health teacher of the school. To better equip her (Mrs. Araceli A. Sto. Domingo) to handle classes on the subject, the team invited her a seminar — workshop on Early Breastfeeding at the PCMC in 1997, attended by personnel of Breastfeeding friendly hospitals and a few teachers of schools chosen to be part of the Early Breastfeeding Education Program.
It was found that of the students who attended the lecture, those given follow-up sessions were more convinced abou the importance of breastfeeding than those who did not have follow-up sessions. After three years, those who did not have follow-up sessions hardly remember that they learned from the lecture. Those who had follow-up sessions on the other hand, up to graduation know the importance of breastfeeding and will choose breastfeeding when the times come.
Following through with the concept on expanding the program to different high schools before going down to the elementary level we submitted a protocol to UNICEF which was said to have been approved.
In 1997, during the Third International Congress of the Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine, Dr. Ruth Laurence the then President announced that the New York State Department had a curriculum. We requested for their program and modified it to suit our culture and educational system. The program was formally launched last March 22, 1999 with the DECS Secretary Brother Andrews and the DOH represented by Mrs. Esther Feliciano gracing the occasion.
Two pilot schools JASMS and the New Jerusalem, are going to implement the program this June 1999. The DECS will also choose pilot schools. Ms. Merlita Nolido, the head of the Curriculum Develop of the DECS finds the program worthy of a trial in more pilot schools. The Curriculum Adaptation for Filipinos is copyrighted.