The University of Navarra becomes the third Spanish university to establish a partnership framework with IHAN for the promotion of breastfeeding.

The University of Navarra has signed a partnership agreement with the Initiative for the Humanization of attendance at Birth and Breastfeeding (IHAN), thus becoming the third Spanish university to establish this subject of agreement for the promotion and recognition of breastfeeding.

This agreement is part of the health promotion initiatives, specifically, in the Healthyclassroom project of the School of Nursing. However, it has been promoted by an interdisciplinary team from the University of Navarra, made up of teachers, researchers, health professionals and research support staff from the School of Medicine, the Clínica Universidad de Navarra (CUN) and the School of Nursing. The driving team is composed of Maider Belintxon Martín, Pablo Tabuenca Agramonte, Paola Alexandria Magalhães, Leyre López García, Esther Peña Álvarez and Laura Galarza Francisco.

"This agreement will make it possible to create breastfeeding-friendly spaces, promote knowledge, raise awareness among the university community and, of course, continue to promote research in this area from the University for Navarre society," explains Maider Belintxon, professor at the School of Nursing.

In Navarra, several healthcare centers are in the process of accreditation by the IHAN. In this context, Maider Belintxon, Esther Peña and Leyre López, the three members of the IHAN Commission of the Clínica Universidad de Navarra, have been core topic in the gestation of this partnership from the university environment. In addition, Leyre López participates as a volunteer in Amagintza, a Navarre association dedicated to the promotion of breastfeeding, which has contributed to strengthening the construction of this project in Navarre society.

Currently, about 80 % of Navarrese babies are exclusively breastfed at birth. However, this percentage drops to 32% at six months, according data the official portal navarra.es. Although the figure is close to the goal of the World Health Organization (WHO), which establishes 50% exclusive breastfeeding up to six months, there is still room for improvement. Since 2004, Navarra has had a Breastfeeding committee , and since 2024, a Technical Advisory Committee for the IHAN.

The agreement signed goal to promote training, research and knowledge dissemination on breastfeeding, addressing the multiple factors that condition it. To this end, the IHAN is committed to support the University of Navarra, which will be responsible for strengthening the breastfeeding support chain, involving health professionals, community actors and the university community itself.

This initiative is also aligned with the Sustainable development Goals (SDGs) established by the United Nations for the year 2030, especially those related to health, gender equality and the well-being of families.

Salomé Laredo, president of the IHAN, highlighted the partnership with universities to promote a breastfeeding-friendly community: "It is not only essential to training professionals and promote breastfeeding in healthcare centers; breastfeeding is everyone's responsibility. All citizens must be involved in the care of mothers, their children and families, and for this, the university, which reflects society, Education, culture and science, is an essential protagonist," she stressed.

Along the same lines, Leyre López stated: "Collaborating closely in the care of mothers in a support group allows you to have a closer view of the difficulties faced by women who want to breastfeed; to value the importance of continuous training in breastfeeding; to detect possible lines of research in the subject; and thus be able to transfer to the group and to the mothers the knowledge acquired along the way. Breastfeeding is a complex biopsychosocial process and therefore, it is necessary to work in all areas to provide mother-child dyads with the care they need".

To conclude, Maider Belintxon pointed out that this alliance represents only the beginning of an exciting work : "We have many ideas and projects in mind. At the moment, together with the Breastfeeding Commission of the Clinic, we are organizing a program of activities to celebrate the European Breastfeeding Week to be held in October, aimed at the university community, health professionals and the general public," she said.