The HSE has been forced to drop its target to increase breastfeeding rates by two percent per year following consistent failures to meet these targets over several years.
The 2016-2021 national breastfeeding strategy, ‘Breastfeeding in a Healthy Ireland’, featured as an “overall target” an “annual 2% increase in breastfeeding duration rates between 2016 and 2021 (exclusive and not exclusive)”.
While the number of women breastfeeding in Ireland has increased in recent years, it hasn’t increased fast enough to meet the HSE’s targets.
The ‘Breastfeeding in a Healthy Ireland’ strategy was extended by two years through to 2023, but continued to fail to meet its goals. The HSE’s Performance Assurance Reports for 2022 and the first six months of 2023 saw the number of women breastfeeding failing to increase in line with the health service’s targets.
The strategy has not been replaced following its recent expiry.
The HSE is reviewing its progress with regards to its breastfeeding strategy and says that it will continue to work on outstanding actions it requires.
By June 2023, just short of 62% of babies were breastfed at the time of the first public health nurse visit shortly after birth, which failed to reach the target of 64% in place since 2021.
Ireland has one of the lowest breastfeeding rates in the world, with higher percentages being recorded in other countries. Croatia has the highest rate in the world with over 98 percent of all babies breastfed from birth.
Breastfeeding has been linked to better health outcomes, including a lower risk of infections for breastfed babies and a lowered risk of breast cancer for breastfeeding mothers. It has also been shown to result in a lower risk of asthma, obesity and type-1 diabetes.
The HSE also said that the number of infant feeding and lactation consultant positions in the service has doubled to 59 since 2021, and that they’re providing support in a variety of ways related to maternity services, children’s care and training.