Grant: CIHR Café Scientifique Program

The Baby-Friendly Council of Newfoundland and Labrador (Baby-Friendly NL) Breastfeeding Research Working Group is an experienced medical, nursing, and research team from the Faculty of Medicine/School of Pharmacy at Memorial University, the NL Provincial Perinatal Program, the NL Centre for Health Information, and the Baby-Friendly Council of NL. We are working on a large three-part study looking at why women breastfeed (BF) their babies. The aim is to increase BF rates in NL, since we fall far below the Canadian average. Breastfeeding is known to be "best for baby" because it has both short-term benefits (protects infants and young children against diarrhea, respiratory tract infections, ear infections, meningitis, and urinary tract infections) and long-term benefits (protects against chronic illnesses, such as obesity and Type I and Type II diabetes). Breastfeeding is also known to have extended long-term effects by reducing healthcare costs. This is significant locally since NL reports some of the highest rates of all 3 chronic conditions, yet the lowest rates of initiation and duration rates of BF nationally and internationally. Programs supporting a "baby-friendly" atmosphere in hospitals and throughout community programs can improve BF rates. More importantly, interventions to support expectant and new mothers in the area of infant feeding are key to improving the health of both mother and child. This application for a Café Scientifique to be held in Happy Valley-Goose Bay, NL is submitted as a follow-up to ones in St. John's, NL (eastern region) in 2010; Corner Brook, NL (western region) in 2012; and Gander, NL (central region) in 2013 on this very important topic. Funding for a fourth Café will allow the expansion of this dialogue into the remaining region of Labrador/northern Newfoundland. The audience of interest is expectant/new mothers and fathers, their support persons, healthcare practitioners, and all interested members of the general public.