This story was first published in digitalhealth.net
Incentivise mothers to breastfeed, study urges
A study published in JAMA Pediatrics has claimed that offering vouchers to new mothers can encourage them to breastfeed their babies.
Approximately 10,000 new mothers in the low-uptake areas of Yorkshire, Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire were offered up to £200 in vouchers as an incentive to breastfeed, causing an increase in breastfeeding rates in the regions.
In total, 46 per cent of all eligible mothers signed up to the scheme and more than 40 per cent claimed at least one voucher, which could be used to buy food, household items, toys or clothes in supermarkets and other shops.
Breastfeeding levels in the UK are among the lowest in the world, with some areas only seeing 12 per cent of six to eight week-old babies being fed in this way.
Health experts say that breastfeeding reduces a baby's chances of: diarrhoea and vomiting; chest and ear infections; becoming obese; sudden infant death syndrome; type 2 diabetes in later life; childhood leukaemia; eczema; and cardiovascular disease in adulthood.
Mary Renfrew, an author of the study from the University of Dundee, said: "It can be particularly difficult for women to breastfeed without strong family and community support, because of strong societal barriers."
Latest News
16/02/2024 - 12:56
Hammersmith and Fulham Council has created a new alliance intended to clean dirty air and improve residents' health.
16/02/2024 - 10:44
Two million more GP appointments a month are being delivered for patients compared to the same month before the pandemic as part of the NHS primary care access recovery plan according to new NHS data.
15/02/2024 - 10:26
The Welsh Government has provided innovation funding of £380,000 to support two projects utilising technology in domiciliary care.
15/02/2024 - 10:13
The new Scottish health secretary has met with frontline staff at Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow.
14/02/2024 - 10:27
The North East London NHS Foundation Trust (NELFT) has appointed three new Executive Directors to the Trust Board.
Product Features
UK Building Regulations highlight toxic gas and smoke from layers of paint built up over multiple redecorations as a major cause of permanent ill health or death in a building fire.
Their concern rose with discovery the flame retardant paints most widely used paint along escape routes have been ones which to this day counter-productively use emission of heavy toxic gas to smother flames which rapidly spread along walls if layers of paint delaminate in a fire.
Supplier Profiles
Northwich’s Victoria Infirmary (VIN) Community Diagnostic Centre (CDC) has enabled more patients
Adveco, the commercial hot water specialist, announces the launch of live metering of domestic ho
Latest Features
Sarah Greenslade, public affairs and communications officer at the British Parking Association looks at some of the problems and innovations in healthcare parking
It’s easy to assume that the comms team is there to handle press enquiries and the occasional social media storm – but the reality is that strategic communications can make a measurable impact across the entire organisation, from operational to financial, when done properly
