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. 2020 Mar 9:9:e10.
doi: 10.1017/jns.2020.4.

An analysis of stakeholder networks to support the breastfeeding scale-up environment in Mexico

Gabriela Buccini  1 , Kassandra L Harding  1 , Isabel Ferré Eguiluz  2 , Cara B Safon  1   3 , Amber Hromi-Fielder  1 , Teresita González de Cosío  2 , Rafael Pérez-Escamilla  1
Affiliations

An analysis of stakeholder networks to support the breastfeeding scale-up environment in Mexico

Gabriela Buccini et al. J Nutr Sci. .

Abstract

Little information exists on how to garner political commitment to strengthen large-scale breastfeeding policies and programmes by targeting key decision makers. The present study aims to map and describe the influence of stakeholders involved in breastfeeding policy and programming and identify opportunities to strengthen the breastfeeding-friendly environment in Mexico. A total of nine key informants from seventeen stakeholder organisations were selected based on their in-depth knowledge of the breastfeeding environment in Mexico and were individually interviewed using Net-Map methodology. This participatory interview technique combines stakeholder mapping, social network analysis and influence mapping to identify relevant stakeholders. Participants identified a total of fifty-five stakeholders shaping breastfeeding programmes and policies through four domains of influence: commands (n 32 stakeholders), dissemination (n 40), funding (n 35) and technical assistance (n 37). The Federal Ministry of Health emerged as the most influential stakeholder of breastfeeding policy and programming decisions in Mexico among all domains of influence. The Ministry of Finance and Public Credit as well as the National Institute of Public Health were identified as additional key stakeholders providing funding and technical assistance to the Federal Ministry of Health, respectively. Engaging identified key stakeholders can generate a multisectoral commitment to breastfeeding and strengthen the breastfeeding-friendly environment in Mexico.

Keywords: BBF, Becoming Breastfeeding Friendly; BMSC, breastmilk substitute companies; Breastfeeding; ConMéxico, Mexican Council of the Consumer Products Industry; EBF, exclusive breastfeeding; Implementation science; NGO, non-government organisation; Nutrition policy; PAHO, Pan-American Health Organization; SHCP, Ministry of Finance and Public Credit; SSAF, Federal Ministry of Health; Stakeholder participation.

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Figures

Fig. 1.
Fig. 1.
Overview of the stepwise process to apply the Net-Map activity to analyse breastfeeding stakeholders in Mexico. Adapted from Schiffer & Waale(23).
Fig. 2.
Fig. 2.
Percentage of breastfeeding stakeholders in Mexico representing the number of citations across the nine interviews. Numbers reflect the number of times a stakeholder was cited across the nine interviews, ranging from 1 to 9.
Fig. 3.
Fig. 3.
Average weighted influence for all breastfeeding stakeholders in Mexico; ranked lowest to highest.
Fig. 4.
Fig. 4.
Maps of Mexico's breastfeeding policy stakeholders sized by sum reported influence, colour-coded by stakeholder groups and stratified by domains of influence: commands links (a), dissemination links (b), funding links (c) and technical assistance (d).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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