Competence Framework for Breastfeeding Support

The Global Strategy for Infant and Young Child Feeding (WHO, 2003) emphasises that women need education and support from knowledgeable health workers, in order to establish and maintain breastfeeding. However, evidence-based knowledge, skills, and attitudes are lacking among health workers in many disciplines and settings (Renfrew et al 2012). It is recognised that training and continued education are associated with improved breastfeeding outcomes for clients (Thulier and Mercer 2009), meaning that methods to assess competency of health workers related to breastfeeding, are required. The National Breastfeeding Strategy Action Plan (Department of Health & Children, 2005) set an objective to ensure that ‘Health workers have the knowledge and skills necessary to protect, promote and support breastfeeding’ (Objective 2.2, pg 35). A study was undertaken by the Education & Training sub-committee and their report recommended that further work was undertaken to establish the expected standards/competencies of the various levels of health workers related to assisting breastfeeding towards providing appropriate education and training for all the levels (Becker, Mumford, Cahill, 2010) and a means of measuring this important objective. The purpose of this project was to develop a competency framework for health workers in the hospital and community settings who provide support and care to pregnant women, babies and their mothers who are breastfeeding. The framework is intended to list core competences in breastfeeding assistance and protection whilst recognising that competences for individual health disciplines may also exist through other regulatory and educational mechanisms. It is envisioned that the framework will benchmark expected work practices, assist in workforce planning and skill mix, inform academic curricula and professional development programs, and so will enhance the care of breastfeeding children and their mothers and promote inter-professional collaboration. The framework for competencies in supporting breastfeeding was commissioned by ALCI (The association of Lactation Consultants in Ireland) and developed in consultation with the Education and Training subgroup of the National Breastfeeding Strategy Implementation Committee.