Infant feeding policies and monitoring systems: A qualitative study of European Countries.

Implementation of the Global Strategy for Infant and Young Child Feeding varies widely among countries. Policymakers would benefit from insights into obstacles and enablers. Our aim was to explore the processes behind the development and implementation of national infant and young child feeding policies and monitoring systems in Europe. A qualitative study design was employed to analyze open text responses from six European countries (Croatia, Germany, Lithuania, Spain, Turkey and Ukraine) using inductive thematic analysis. Countries were selected based on their World Breastfeeding Trends Initiative scores on national policy and monitoring systems. The 33-item online questionnaire was distributed to country representatives and completed by country teams. Key enablers and strengths included strong and continuous government commitment to infant and young child feeding, an operational national breastfeeding authority, a national and active monitoring and evaluation system, implementation of the International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes in national legislation, the integration of skilled breastfeeding supporters, the implementation of the Baby-friendly Hospital Initiative, and positive cultural norms and traditions supporting optimal infant and young child feeding. In some countries, UNICEF played a key role in funding and designing policies and monitoring systems. Weak government leadership, the strong influence of the industry, lack of adequate national legislation on the International Code and cultural norms which devalued breastfeeding were particularly noted as obstacles. Government commitment, funding and protection of optimal infant and young child feeding are essential to the implementation of strong national policies and monitoring systems.

Gray H ，Zakarija-Grković I ，Cattaneo A ，Vassallo C ，Borg Buontempo M ，Harutyunyan S ，Bettinelli ME ，Rosin S ... -  《-》

Are our babies off to a healthy start? The state of implementation of the Global strategy for infant and young child feeding in Europe.

Zakarija-Grković I ，Cattaneo A ，Bettinelli ME ，Pilato C ，Vassallo C ，Borg Buontempo M ，Gray H ，Meynell C ，Wise P ，Harutyunyan S ，Rosin S ，Hemmelmayr A ，Šniukaitė-Adner D ，Arendt M ，Gupta A ... -  《International Breastfeeding Journal》

Legislation, policies and guidelines related to breastfeeding and the Baby Friendly Health Initiative in Australia: a document analysis.

Esbati A ，Barnes M ，Henderson A ，Taylor J ... -  《-》

Changes in the policy environment for infant and young child feeding in Vietnam, Bangladesh, and Ethiopia, and the role of targeted advocacy.

Harris J ，Frongillo EA ，Nguyen PH ，Kim SS ，Menon P ... -  《BMC PUBLIC HEALTH》

Breastfeeding practices and policies in WHO European Region Member States.

Bagci Bosi AT ，Eriksen KG ，Sobko T ，Wijnhoven TM ，Breda J ... -  《-》