Breastfeeding+in+Thailand

** Breastfeeding in Thailand **
toc There are no laws in [|Thailand] that prohibit women from breastfeeding in public. It is important to know that modesty is expected while breastfeeding or otherwise expressing breast milk. In Thailand extensive measures have been taken to educate people of all social strata to understand the importance of breastfeeding for babies. Culturally, breastfeeding has grown in importance and it is commonplace around the country that many public establishments. Furthermore many companies offer nursing corners/rooms for employees who are nursing (Thailand).

** Laws and Politics **
In 1989 Thailand began the National Breastfeeding Project. This project gave much consideration to the known benefits of breastfeeding beyond basic nutritional value, including but not limited to protecting the infant against infection and building immunities from a long list of illnesses, mother-infant bonding, convenience, cost-savings, and healthy development for the infant (Liamputtong, 2011).

The National Breastfeeding Project encouraged would to breastfeed exclusively for the first 6 months postpartum and to continue breastfeeding until the child is at least 2 years old with complementary foods. Additionally, the project created a nationwide education campaign to increase the awareness of the benefits of breastfeeding (Hangchaovancih and Voramongkol, 2006).

In 1995 the Thai government passed the //Thai Code of Marketing Food for Infants and Young Children// was developed. This code created clear rules on how private industry’s marketing of infant formula is governed. According to Hangchaovancih and Voramongkol (2006) the regulations included:
 * No advertising of formula to the public
 * No free samples to mothers
 * No companies offering advice to mothers
 * Government screened and approved ALL educational material on feeding infants
 * No promotion of products in healthcare facilities
 * No gifts to health care workers

** Influencing Factors **
In Thailand, women who have given birth are afforded three-months leave from work to care for and bond with their new baby. There are several factors that impact the desire or ability to breastfeed. Higher education and employment are negatively correlated with breastfeeding. The need to get back to work limits breastfeeding. Since women only have [|three months of leave] and the standard for breastfeeding is 6 months exclusively. It is not unusual that Thai women leave their children in the care of others while working. Misunderstanding or lack of education about pumping and storing breast milk may also lead to using infant formula. Poor families are more likely breast feed longer due to the cost of infant formula. (Li et al., 1999). Lastly, some women may correlate [|breast size]to the ability to produce breast milk. Statistically, Thai women are said to have the smallest breast size around the world. The anxiety about being able to produce enough breast milk may also lead families to use infant formula.

**Video**
The embedded Public Service Announcement is done in the style of a Telemundo soap opera. This short video is packed with information and serves to teach people at all socioeconomic strata the value of breastfeeding.

media type="youtube" key="LCReQin-bAo" width="420" height="315"

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