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. 2022 Feb 28;10(1):e2100071.
doi: 10.9745/GHSP-D-21-00071. Print 2022 Feb 28.

Mother-Baby Friendly Philippines: Using Citizen Reporting to Improve Compliance to the International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes

Kate Reinsma  1 , Alfred Jose C Ballesteros  2 , Rene Andrew A Bucu  2 , Teddy S Dizon  2 , Nathan John U Jumalon  2 , Lorelane C Ramirez  2 , Czarina Anne A Villareiz  2 , Carleneth San Valentin  3 , Maria Rosario S Vergeire  4
Affiliations

Mother-Baby Friendly Philippines: Using Citizen Reporting to Improve Compliance to the International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes

Kate Reinsma et al. Glob Health Sci Pract. .

Abstract

Introduction: In 1986, the Philippines was one of the first countries to pass national legislation on the International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes in the form of Executive Order (EO) 51 and Republic Act (RA) 10028. While violations against the legislation and corresponding sanctions are clearly defined, infractions remain unreported or go unpunished. Enforcement of the laws remains a significant challenge as government capacities suffer from inadequate resources to regularly monitor breastfeeding-related law violations. To address these gaps, The Department of Health (Philippines) and the World Vision Development Foundation developed a reporting platform to enable citizen reporting of EO 51 and RA 10028 violations as part of the Mother-Baby Friendly Philippines (MBFP) initiative.

Methods: Upon completion of the project, the Alliance for Improving Health Outcomes Inc. conducted 68 surveys and 24 key informant interviews and focus group discussions with individuals who participated in trainings on EO 51 and RA 10028, community health workers, representatives of local government units and hospitals involved in breastfeeding programs, and city health officials to document benefits, challenges, and lessons learned.

Results: The intention and interest of consulted stakeholders to uphold the law by reporting violations through the platform indicate that citizen reporting can be harnessed as an effective tool for reporting violations. Nevertheless, multiple challenges remain in reporting and following up on Code violations.

Discussion: The platform provided citizens with an opportunity to report violations, but, in reality, the status of action and feedback did not change. There is a need to strengthen implementation and enforcement at all levels of relevant national government agencies and improve feedback loops on reported violations.

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Figures

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Training provided to health professionals that emphasized their need to know the Milk Code law beyond its title, how certain practices by formula companies impinge on their rights, and how to advocate for their rights by reporting violations. © 2018 Angela Pajares/World Vision Development Foundation
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Community orientation on infant and young child feeding and related laws, as well as the Mother-Baby Friendly Philippines reporting platform. © 2018, Kristian Jebsen Bandong, World Vision Development Foundation
FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
Screenshots of the Second Version of the Mother-Baby Friendly Philippines Mobile Application From left to right: (a) the dashboard or home screen, (b) the report form showcasing improved user interface with graphics and explanations, and (c) the violation reporting form.
FIGURE 2
FIGURE 2
Status of Received Reports in Reporting Platform on Milk Code Violations, Philippines
FIGURE 3
FIGURE 3
Awareness of Stipulations of the Breastfeeding Laws Among Respondents per Pilot Site, Philippines Abbreviations: MBFP, Mother-Baby Friendly Philippines; SMS, short message service.
FIGURE 4
FIGURE 4
Possible Means of Reporting Violations as Identified by Survey Respondents, Philippines Abbreviations: MBFP, Mother-Baby Friendly Philippines; SMS, short message service.
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References

    1. World Health Organization (WHO). International Code of Marketing of Breast-Milk Substitutes. WHO; 1981.
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    1. World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF, IBFAN. Marketing of Breast-Milk Substitutes: National Implementation of the International Code. Status Report 2020. WHO; 2020. Accessed January 7, 2022. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240006010
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