Clinical Assistant Professor of Nutritional Science
Breastfeeding: Public Health Perspectives
What You'll Learn
- Understand short- and long-term health benefits of breastfeeding.
- Discover the economic and environmental impacts of breastfeeding.
- Design educational materials to promote breastfeeding.
4 Modules
12 Hours
3 hrs per module (approx.)
Rating
About Breastfeeding: Public Health Perspectives
Engaging in this course will provide you with the opportunity to think about breastfeeding and its public health implications. The Socio-Ecological Model will be the framework of the course as we think about how each level of the Model (individual, interpersonal, community, organizational, and public policy) impacts breastfeeding practices in the United States, and globally.
Through short video lectures you will be introduced to relevant topics related to the public health perspectives of breastfeeding such as the maternal and child short- and long-term health benefits, economic and environmental impacts, the state of health profession curricula surrounding breastfeeding education, and breastfeeding practices of the LGBTQ+ community.
You will apply this knowledge to critique breastfeeding literature, create a breastfeeding budget for a particular breastfeeding parent persona, and design an education material to promote breastfeeding. As you complete this course, you should feel confident in identifying the barriers to successful breastfeeding practices and understand how adequate breastfeeding will impact population health.
Skills You'll Gain
- Community Health Improvement
- Health Equity
- Public Health
What You'll Earn
- Certificate of Completion:
- Certificates of completion acknowledge knowledge acquired upon completion of a non-credit course or program.
Welcome Message
Welcome to Breastfeeding: Public Health Perspectives, an online course exploring breastfeeding through a public health lens. Using the Socio-Ecological Model, you will examine how individual, interpersonal, community, organizational, and policy levels influence breastfeeding practices in the U.S. and globally. Learners will study health benefits, economic and environmental impacts, educational gaps, and diverse community practices, while applying insights to real-world budgeting, literature critique, and public health communication.
This abbreviated syllabus description was created with the help of AI tools and reviewed by staff. The full syllabus is available to those who enroll in the course.
Course Schedule
Module 1
- Reading: Get to know your Instructors!
- Reading: Course Syllabus
- Reading: Pre-Course Survey
- Reading: Knowledge Tests
- Graded Assignment: Knowledge Pre-Test
- Discussion Prompt: Meet Your Fellow Learners!
- Video: Breastfeeding: A Public Health Priority
- Video: The Application of Breastfeeding Practices to the Socio-Ecological Model
- Video: Breastfeeding Definitions
- Video: Health Benefits for the Infant in Receiving Human Breast Milk
- Video: Maternal Health Benefits in Breastfeeding
- Video: When is Breastfeeding Contraindicated or Problematic?
- Reading: Weekly Practice Quizzes
- Graded Assignment: Week One Quiz
- Reading: Educational Materials Assignment Overview
- Reading: Educational Materials Assignment: Part 1 - Topic and Medium
- Reading: Introduction to the Gallery Tool
- App Item: Gallery: Educational Materials Assignment Part 1
- Reading: Providing Effective Feedback
Module 2
- Video: Individual Factor Related to Breastfeeding: Maternal Self-Efficacy
- Video: Individual Factor Related to Breastfeeding: Maternal Knowledge and Skills
- Video: Individual Factor Related to Breastfeeding: Beliefs, Values, and Misconceptions
- Video: Breastfeeding or Lactation Challenges
- Video: Interpersonal Factors Related to Breastfeeding: Social Norms and Support
- Video: The Importance of Breastfeeding: Economic Effects
- Video: The Importance of Breastfeeding: Environmental Effects
- Video: Media Support for Breastfeeding
- Graded Assignment: Week Two Quiz
- Graded: Breastfeeding Budget
Module 3
- Video: Timely and Skilled Lactation Support for Health Care Professionals: Guidelines from Healthcare Professional Organizations
- Video: Perceptions of Breastfeeding Support from Health Care Professionals
- Video: What is a Clinical Lactation Expert?
- Video: Community Health Workers
- Video: Breastfeeding Support in the Hospital Setting
- Video: Breastfeeding Support in Outpatient Settings
- Graded Assignment: Week Three Quiz
- Reading: Educational Materials Assignment: Part 2 - Draft Instructions
- App Item: Gallery: Educational Materials Assignment: Part 2 Draft
- Reading: Providing Effective Feedback
- Graded: Critique a Breastfeeding Review Paper
Module 4
- Video: Policies Related to Breastfeeding
- Video: Surveillance Tools to Monitor Breastfeeding Practices: US and Global
- Video: Special Topic: Donor Milk Banks
- Video: Special Topic: Chestfeeding Considerations for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Questioning, Plus People
- Video: Special Topic: Support for Breastfeeding/Breast Milk in a Child Care Setting
- Reading: Optional Resource: LiquidGoldConcept Telesimulation
- Graded Assignment: Week Four Quiz
- Reading: Educational Materials Assignment: Part 3 Final Draft Instructions
- App Item: Educational Materials Assignment: Part 3 Final Draft
- Graded: Acknowledgement of Completion of Educational Materials Assignment
- Graded: Knowledge Post-Test
Grading Policy
To complete the course, learners must achieve an overall grade of 80% or higher. There is an ungraded pre-test and ungraded weekly practice quizzes. There are two assignments worth 30% of your final grade, and two assignments worth 40% of your final grade.
Course content developed by U-M faculty and managed by the university. Faculty titles and affiliations are updated periodically.
Beginner Level
No prior experience required
What Learners Are Saying
As public health advocates, if we can identify the factors that impact successful breastfeeding from the personal to societal level, we can then better advocate for breastfeeding across populations and support equitable opportunities to breastfeed.
Olivia S. Anderson, PhD, RD Clinical Assistant Professor of Nutritional Science
Despite well-documented benefits, parents encounter barriers to successful breastfeeding that arise from society, health care priorities, interpersonal relationships, and even parents themselves. We designed this course so everyone from parents to health care providers…
Olivia S. Anderson, PhD, RD Clinical Assistant Professor of Nutritional Science
Breastfeeding practices positively impact the health of children, breastfeeding parents, the economy, and the environment. The key to improving breastfeeding rates in our communities lies within mitigating barriers to breastfeeding.
Olivia S. Anderson, PhD, RD Clinical Assistant Professor of Nutritional Science
Despite well-documented benefits, parents encounter barriers to successful breastfeeding that arise from society, health care priorities, interpersonal relationships, and even parents themselves. We designed this course so everyone from parents to health care providers…
Olivia Anderson PhD, MPH, RD, Clinical Assistant Professor, Nutritional Sciences
