Examining the Washington State Breastfeeding-Friendly Policy Development Process Using the Advocacy Coalition...

Area of Science:

• Public Health Policy
• Health Services Research
• Health Promotion

Background:

• Breastfeeding promotion is a key public health strategy.
• Supportive policies can create environments and address challenges for breastfeeding.
• Washington State considered Breastfeeding-Friendly Washington (BFW) bills in 2014, which did not pass.

Purpose of the Study:

• Analyze the policy development process for the BFW bills.
• Utilize the Advocacy Coalition Framework to understand policy dynamics.
• Identify key factors influencing the success or failure of breastfeeding policy initiatives.

Main Methods:

• Case study design.
• Semi-structured interviews with key policy stakeholders.
• Document review and thematic analysis.

Main Results:

• Two main coalitions, proponents and opponents, emerged regarding the BFW bills.
• Proponents cited breastfeeding benefits and policy's role in addressing environmental challenges.
• Opponents viewed the bills as government overreach; opposition emerged late, with perceived misrepresentation of intent.

Conclusions:

• Understanding proponent and opponent beliefs is crucial for policy development.
• Framing advocacy messages broadly, beyond individual health, is effective.
• Expanding coalitions beyond traditional health entities and anticipating opposition are key learnings.