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Venu I, van den Heuvel M, Wong JP, Borkhoff CM, Moodie RG, Ford-Jones EL, Wong PD. The breastfeeding paradox: Relevance for household food insecurity. Paediatr Child Health 2017; 22:180-183. [PMID: 29479210 DOI: 10.1093/pch/pxx067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Mitigating the harmful effects of adverse social conditions is critical to promoting optimal health and development throughout the life course. Many Canadians worry over food access or struggle with household food insecurity. Public policy positions breastfeeding as a step toward eradicating poverty. Breastfeeding fulfills food security criteria by providing the infant access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food that meets dietary needs and food preferences. Unfortunately, a breastfeeding paradox exists where infants of low-income families who would most gain from the health benefits, are least likely to breastfeed. Solving household food insecurity and breastfeeding rates may be best realized at the public policy level. Notably, the health care provider's competencies as medical expert, professional, communicator and advocate are paramount. Our commentary aims to highlight the critical link between breastfeeding and household food insecurity that may provide opportunities to affect clinical practice, public policy and child health outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isvarya Venu
- School of Medicine, Trinity College Dublin, University of Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Meta van den Heuvel
- Division of Paediatric Medicine, Department of Paediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario
| | - Jonathan P Wong
- Division of Paediatric Medicine, Department of Paediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario
| | - Cornelia M Borkhoff
- Division of Paediatric Medicine, Department of Paediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario.,Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario
| | - Rosemary G Moodie
- Division of Paediatric Medicine, Department of Paediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario
| | - Elizabeth L Ford-Jones
- Division of Paediatric Medicine, Department of Paediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario.,Social Paediatrics, Department of Paediatrics, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario
| | - Peter D Wong
- Division of Paediatric Medicine, Department of Paediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario.,SickKids Research Institute, Toronto, Ontario
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Wong PD, Wong JP, van den Heuvel M, Feller AE, Silver-Cohen J, Talarico S, Humphreys J, Ford-Jones L. The paediatrician and middle childhood parenting. Paediatr Child Health 2017; 22:26-29. [PMID: 29483792 DOI: 10.1093/pch/pxw008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The 'forgotten years' of middle childhood, from age 6 to 12, represent a critical period in child development. Emotional, social and physical development during this time have a lifelong impact on health and adult contributions to society. Mental health conditions have displaced physical illness as the leading childhood disability. Positive parenting can improve child behaviour, prevent early-onset conduct problems and provide a buffer from adverse childhood events resulting in decreased toxic stress and improved health. Medical homes can play a key role in supporting parents with positive parenting skills that are practical, evidence-based and useful in everyday life. Paediatricians need to explore the domains that promote healthy development, including caring environments, fundamental needs and nurturing relationships. Our objective is to promote high-quality positive parenting through middle childhood by identifying opportunities for paediatricians to frame parenting discussions in the context of development, behaviour and safety and to provide access to valuable parenting resources.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter D Wong
- Division of Paediatric Medicine, Department of Paediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario.,SickKids Research Institute, Toronto, Ontario
| | - Jonathan P Wong
- Division of Paediatric Medicine, Department of Paediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario
| | - Meta van den Heuvel
- Division of Paediatric Medicine, Department of Paediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario
| | | | - Justine Silver-Cohen
- Division of Paediatric Medicine, Department of Paediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario
| | - Susanna Talarico
- Division of Paediatric Medicine, Department of Paediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario
| | - Joanna Humphreys
- Division of Paediatric Medicine, Department of Paediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario
| | - Lee Ford-Jones
- Division of Paediatric Medicine, Department of Paediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario.,Social Paediatrics, Department of Paediatrics, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario
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