Becoming Breastfeeding Friendly Switzerland (BBF-Projekt)

To promote breastfeeding in Switzerland, the breastfeeding-friendly environmentwas assessed using the standardised ‘Becoming Breastfeeding Friendly’ procedure. Based on the scored benchmarks, actions were developed that can be implemented in Switzerland.

Result

Key data

Result

Switzerland’s Becoming Breastfeeding Friendly Index was 1.1, based on data from 2024. The breastfeeding-friendly environment in Switzerland was therefore classified as moderate. The Gears ‘Advocacy’, ‘Legislation’, ‘Education & Breastfeeding Counselling’ and ‘Research & Evaluation’ were assessed as moderate. ‘Political Will’, ‘Funding’ and ‘Advertising’ were classified as weak Gears. No ‘Gear’ was assessed as non-existent. The experts formulated a framework recommendation entitled ‘Development of a national breastfeeding strategy’, as well as eleven further recommendations.

Description

Background

The World Health Organisation (WHO) recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months (WHO, online). However, the Swiss Infant Feeding Study (Juvalta et al. 2025) showed that women in Switzerland breastfeed exclusively for a median of 17.4 weeks. This duration is significantly below international recommendations. In 2020, the World Breastfeeding Trends Initiative (WBTi) rated the promotion of breastfeeding in Switzerland as in need of development, as policy measures and programmes only scored 48 out of a possible 100 points (WBTi, 2020). These results highlighted the urgent need for action to improve the breastfeeding environment and practices. A comprehensive systematic analysis of the breast-feeding environment in Switzerland was required to develop and implement targeted measures for the sustainable promotion of breastfeeding.

Aims

The aims of the Becoming Breastfeeding Friendly (BBF) Switzerland project was to identify the strengths and weaknesses of the breastfeeding-friendly environment in Switzerland and to develop recommendations and processes for the expansion of breastfeeding strategies and programmes. Concrete measures were derived to sustainably increase the breastfeeding rate in Switzerland.

Method and procedure

Under the scientific management of the ZHAW, as well as administrative and financial support from the Family Larsson Rosenquist Foundation, this project was implemented in Switzerland for the first time. The BBF initiative was developed by Yale University with the aim of enabling a global scaling-up of breast-feeding support. The assessment is based on eight gears:

Advocacy
Political Will
Legislation & Policies
Funding & Resources
Training & Program Delivery
Promotion
Research & Evaluation
Coordination, Goals & Monitoring

Benchmarks in these categories were evaluated by experts in a total of three meetings. In two further sessions, targeted measures to promote breast-feeding in Switzerland were developed. A literature and document analysis as well as semi-structured qualitative interviews were conducted to collect data.

Benefits

This study analysed the breastfeeding environment in Switzerland. Based on the recommendations of the expert panel, targeted measures can be implemented to promote breastfeeding. In the long term, this could contribute to an increase in the average duration of breastfeeding for women in Switzerland.