Promoting fathers’ involvement in breastfeeding

Viet Nam

Project Summary

Hanoi School of Public Health plans to test a new model for increasing the paternal role in supporting breastfeeding. By holding a contest designed to educate and test the breastfeeding knowledge of fathers (while simultaneously engaging the entire family), the project seeks to identify those participants who have good knowledge, attitudes and practices in supporting their wives and caring for babies. Fathers displaying recommended practices will be recognized and praised with titles and awards and will be raised through the ranks of already established social organizations.

Another key aspect will be a mass media communication effort. The same fathers who were most successful in the contest will be publically praised on radio programs. In addition, radio communication will be used to disseminate pro-breastfeeding messages throughout the intervention areas. Static media such as large posters will also be used to increase awareness of the importance of good breastfeeding practices.

Group and individual couple-counseling on breastfeeding issues is also an important part of the intervention. At the individual couple-counseling sessions, print media will be distributed to reinforce the pro-breastfeeding messages developed by the project. The two-year study will be conducted at CHILILAB in Chi Linh District, Hai Duong Province, Vietnam.

Collaborating Institutions

Hanoi School of Public Health will collaborate with the Department of Maternal and Child Health Protection and Family Planning (MOH), to facilitate use of the research results in policy making. The project will also involve the District Health Center of Chi Linh in field implementation and application of the model.

Principal Investigator

Dr. Tran Huu Bich, M.D., Ph.D., Deputy Dean for Research, Hanoi School of Public Health