Title: Bellagio Consensus Meeting: a model for health policy development.

POPLINE Document Number: 121078

Author(s):

Kennedy KI

Source citation:

In: Breastfeeding policy: the role of U.S.-based international organizations. Report of a panel presentation at the NCIH Annual Meeting, June, 1989, edited by John T. Queenan, Miriam H. Labbok, and Katherine Krasovec. Washington, D.C., Georgetown University, Institute for International Studies in Natural Family Planning, 1990 May. :12-8. (Institute Issues Report No. 5)

Abstract:

The Bellagio Consensus Meeting on the use of breast feeding as a family planning method represents a useful model for health policy development. The 1988 meeting, organized by Family Health International and attended by 25 researchers from around the world, aimed to obtain agreement on the level of protection from pregnancy conferred by lactational amenorrhea. The meeting resulted in consensus on the following statement: "During full or nearly full breast feeding as long as the mother remains in amenorrhea, then for up to a full 6 months, she will have 98% protection from pregnancy." Elements considered key to the consensus process included a single objective, good rapport among participants, a spirit of cooperation rather than competition, intensive pre-meeting preparation (required readings), and endorsement by influential organizations such as the US Agency for International Development and the World Health Organization. The consensus has been widely disseminated in the medical and scientific literature and presented to international family planning conferences. Moreover, numerous publications have set forth detailed guidelines for translating the consensus statement into policy change and program implementation.

Keywords:

Italy
Global
Family Planning Policy
Breastfeeding
Promotion
Lactational Amenorrhea Method
Family Planning Programs
Europe, Southern
Europe
Developed Countries
Family Planning
Population Policy
Social Policy
Policy
Infant Nutrition
Nutrition
Health
Marketing
Economic Factors
Family Planning, Behavioral Methods
Programs
Organization and Administration