An Assessment of Formal Education in Breast feeding or human lactation for Health Professionals In Texas

Objectives: Determine if health professionals receive formal courses in human lactation or breastfeeding at institutions of higher education in Texas. Methods: A website search was conducted for courses and competencies in human lactation or breastfeeding at degree-granting medical, physician assistants, public health, and nursing schools in Texas. In addition were searched in and out of state certificate-granting schools of midwifery, doula, and lactation consultants. Results: Breastfeeding was not cited in any of the curricula of degree-granting institutions. Nursing schools did not list but imbedded breastfeeding in childbearing courses. All certificate-granting schools require it in their curricula. Conclusion: It is difficult to foresee achievement of the breastfeeding goals for Healthy People 2010 when health professionals are not trained in them.