@article{c97c5d9ee13d4de9b2105fca2a4938ce,
title = "Breastfeeding and the origins of health: Interdisciplinary perspectives and priorities",
abstract = "Breastfeeding and human milk (HM) are critically important to maternal, infant and population health. This paper summarizes the proceedings of a workshop that convened a multidisciplinary panel of researchers to identify key priorities and anticipated breakthroughs in breastfeeding and HM research, discuss perceived barriers and challenges to achieving these breakthroughs and propose a constructive action plan to maximize the impact of future research in this field. Priority research areas identified were as follows: (1) addressing low breastfeeding rates and inequities using mixed methods, community partnerships and implementation science approaches; (2) improving awareness of evidence-based benefits, challenges and complexities of breastfeeding and HM among health practitioners and the public; (3) identifying differential impacts of alternative modes of HM feeding including expressed/pumped milk, donor milk and shared milk; and (4) developing a mechanistic understanding of the health effects of breastfeeding and the contributors to HM composition and variability. Key barriers and challenges included (1) overcoming methodological limitations of epidemiological breastfeeding research and mechanistic HM research; (2) counteracting {\textquoteleft}breastfeeding denialism{\textquoteright} arising from negative personal breastfeeding experiences; (3) distinguishing and aligning research and advocacy efforts; and (4) managing real and perceived conflicts of interest. To advance research on breastfeeding and HM and maximize the reach and impact of this research, larger investments are needed, interdisciplinary collaboration is essential, and the scientific community must engage families and other stakeholders in research planning and knowledge translation.",
keywords = "breastfeeding, breastmilk, conflict of interest, human milk, infant feeding, lactation, research methodology",
author = "Azad, {Meghan B.} and Nickel, {Nathan C.} and Lars Bode and Meredith Brockway and Amy Brown and Christina Chambers and Camie Goldhammer and Katie Hinde and Michelle McGuire and Daniel Munblit and Patel, {Aloka L.} and Rafael P{\'e}rez-Escamilla and Rasmussen, {Kathleen M.} and Natalie Shenker and Young, {Bridget E.} and Luisa Zuccolo",
note = "Funding Information: We thank all workshop participants for participating with open minds and respectful dialogue. We also thank Natalie Rodriguez and Erika Bloomfield (DEVOTION), Valorie Nash, Kerry Cardoza and Alison Baulous (University of Chicago) for administrative support, Anita Durksen (University of Manitoba) for note taking and Michelle La, John Schellenberg and Kelsey Fehr (University of Manitoba) for document formatting and graphic design. The {\textquoteleft}Breastfeeding and the Origins of Health: Interdisciplinary Perspectives and Priorities{\textquoteright} Workshop was funded by the University of Chicago's Centre for the Economics of Human Development and supported by the University of Manitoba and Children's Hospital Research Institute of Manitoba's Developmental Origins of Chronic Diseases in Children Network (DEVOTION). Funding Information: We thank all workshop participants for participating with open minds and respectful dialogue. We also thank Natalie Rodriguez and Erika Bloomfield (DEVOTION), Valorie Nash, Kerry Cardoza and Alison Baulous (University of Chicago) for administrative support, Anita Durksen (University of Manitoba) for note taking and Michelle La, John Schellenberg and Kelsey Fehr (University of Manitoba) for document formatting and graphic design. The ?Breastfeeding and the Origins of Health: Interdisciplinary Perspectives and Priorities? Workshop was funded by the University of Chicago's Centre for the Economics of Human Development and supported by the University of Manitoba and Children's Hospital Research Institute of Manitoba's Developmental Origins of Chronic Diseases in Children Network (DEVOTION). Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2020 The Authors. Maternal & Child Nutrition published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.",
year = "2021",
month = apr,
doi = "10.1111/mcn.13109",
language = "English (US)",
volume = "17",
journal = "Maternal and Child Nutrition",
issn = "1740-8695",
publisher = "Wiley-Blackwell",
number = "2",
}