Westmoreland health officials are intensifying efforts to increase exclusive breastfeeding among infants, addressing logistical barriers such as workplace facilities and education gaps to ensure more babies receive optimal nutrition in their first six months.
Westmoreland health officials are stepping up efforts to keep more infants exclusively breastfed for the first six months of life, after parish data showed a steep drop-off in feeding rates as babies grew older.
Gladoris Robinson-Reid, the parish nutritionist for Westmoreland, said last year’s figures showed that 56.8% of infants were being exclusively breastfed at six weeks, but that proportion fell to 22% by three months and 3.4% by six months. She said the parish wants to lift exclusive breastfeeding to 60% among babies from birth to six months, and that the numbers underline the need for stronger education and support for mothers. UNICEF Jamaica has also been urging wider and more equal breastfeeding support, saying mothers need help not only in health facilities but also in workplaces and communities if breastfeeding rates are to improve.
Robinson-Reid said the parish’s partial breastfeeding figures suggest many mothers are still trying to provide breast milk even when they cannot sustain exclusive breastfeeding. Among clinic attendees, partial breastfeeding was at 100% at six weeks, 65% at three months and 75% at six months. She said the trend shows that mothers are making an effort, but often lack the conditions needed to continue. UNICEF has previously pointed to similar barriers, including weak workplace support, insufficient maternity facilities and the need for breastfeeding rooms, paid maternity leave and practical counselling for families.
One of the biggest obstacles, Robinson-Reid said, is the workplace. Mothers are encouraged to express breast milk while on the job, but some do not have access to private, suitable spaces to do so. She said the parish is working with UNICEF this year to help create safe feeding spaces in workplaces that are willing to take part, as well as in health centres and other health facilities. The aim is to make breastfeeding more manageable for mothers who want to continue but face logistical hurdles during the working day.
Robinson-Reid said breastfeeding education is not confined to annual observances or campaign periods. Instead, it is built into antenatal care and child health clinic visits throughout the year. She said the parish continues to reinforce the message in different settings across Westmoreland, with the goal of giving mothers more consistent information and better support from pregnancy through early infancy. UNICEF, meanwhile, has argued that better breastfeeding support is part of a broader effort to give children a healthier start in life and reduce inequalities in health outcomes.
Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical judgment, advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
