An analysis of stakeholder networks to support the breastfeeding scale-upenvironment in Mexico

Abstract

Little information exists on how to garner political commitment to strengthen large-scale breastfeeding policies and programmes by targeting key decisionmakers. The present study aims to map and describe the influence of stakeholders involved in breastfeeding policy and programming and identifyopportunities to strengthen the breastfeeding-friendly environment in Mexico. A total of nine key informants from seventeen stakeholder organisationswere selected based on their in-depth knowledge of the breastfeeding environment in Mexico and were individually interviewed using Net-Mapmethodology. This participatory interview technique combines stakeholder mapping, social network analysis and influence mapping to identify relevantstakeholders. Participants identified a total offifty-five stakeholders shaping breastfeeding programmes and policies through four domains of influence:commands (n32 stakeholders), dissemination (n40), funding (n35) and technical assistance (n37). The Federal Ministry of Health emerged as themost influential stakeholder of breastfeeding policy and programming decisions in Mexico among all domains of influence. The Ministry ofFinance and Public Credit as well as the National Institute of Public Health were identified as additional key stakeholders providing funding and technicalassistance to the Federal Ministry of Health, respectively. Engaging identified key stakeholders can generate a multisectoral commitment to breastfeedingand strengthen the breastfeeding-friendly environment in Mexico.