Breastfeeding rates in Europe are among the lowest globally, despite the well-documented health benefits of breastfeeding for both mothers and children. Mothers report stopping breastfeeding earlier than they planned because of challenges that could potentially have been prevented or resolved with timely, evidence-based support from healthcare professionals.
Studies have shown considerable variation in breastfeeding counselling skills among healthcare professionals, and breastfeeding is often given limited attention in healthcare education.
The Joint Action Prevent Non-Communicable Diseases (JA PreventNCD), through its work package on Healthy Living Environments, is excited to present the online
course BreastFEEDucation.
Building on the successful Norwegian course AmmE-læring ), BreastFEEDucation is designed to strengthen competence in breastfeeding counselling through evidence-based, quality-assured content and practical, case-based learning.
About the course
BreastFEEDucation is a free and flexible online course that combines up-to-date scientific evidence with engaging and practical learning activities. Through a mix of:
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short expert lectures
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case-based discussions
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visual demonstrations
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interactive questions and assessments
participants will develop the skills needed to assess, support, and manage breastfeeding across the full continuum of care.
The course is aligned with the WHO/UNICEF Baby-Friendly standards, publicly funded, and developed as a non-commercial educational resource.
Who is the course for?
The course is particularly relevant for:
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healthcare professionals working in maternity, neonatal, and community health services
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healthcare students and others involved in maternal and child health care
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universities and higher education institutions involved in the education of healthcare professionals
Why this course matters
Breastfeeding counselling plays a crucial role in supporting families and improving child health outcomes. BreastFEEDucation provides both a strong theoretical foundation and practical tools to support high-quality, consistent counselling. Our goal is to Our goal is to strengthen the competence of healthcare professionals so that parents receive consistent, high-quality breastfeeding support, enabling more children to benefit from human milk in line with international recommendations. The course may also support implementation of Step 2 of the WHO/UNICEF Baby-Friendly standards.
Key features
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Free and accessible online course
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Flexible, self-paced learning
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Evidence-based and quality-assured content
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Practice-oriented, case-based approach
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Developed within an international public health collaboration
The course is currently available in English, and subtitles in Spanish, Italian, Slovenian, Greek, Ukrainian and Lithuanian are planned for autumn 2026.
The course is available here.