Caloocan City, in partnership with Luzon Health and in consultation with the Department of Health-National Capital Regional Office, conducted its first breastfeeding support group (BFSG) competency assessment on exclusive breastfeeding on April 12, 14, 15, 19 and 20, 2016.
The competency assessment was held at the ICON Hotel in Quezon City for the first batch of BFSGs while the second to eight batches were held at the Conference Room of the Caloocan Health Department. Each batch of BFSG was composed of eight (8) members. A total of sixty four (64) BFSG members from the 44 health centers of Caloocan City were assessed by the city nutrition program coordinators and other health personnel trained on Infant and Young Child Feeding (IYCF).
The competency assessment aimed to assess the knowledge of BFSG members in giving information on breastfeeding and to observe mastery of competencies in counseling mothers. It has two parts: 1) knowledge assessment using a questionnaire and 2) skills assessment using the objective structured competency evaluation (OSCE) methodology with skills observation checklist. Using the skills observation checklist, the performance of the BFSG member was rated for each step or task performed using a rating scale: 2 - if the task was performed well; 1 - if the task was performed but needs improvement and 0 - if the task was not performed.
The results of the competency assessment will be used as basis for the topics to be included in the breastfeeding counseling review updates. The BFSGs will be provided with the review updates to further enhance their skills and improve their confidence in giving information on breastfeeding and counseling mothers.
Let us help improve the quality of information giving and counseling skills of our breastfeeding support groups. Assess their competency skills now!
Written by Ms. Maria Teresa G. Abando, Nutritionist-Dietitian II, Caloocan City
Ms. Abando is a member of the NCR Nutrition Writers’ Guild and the NCR Nutrition Communication Resource (NCR2) Group. She is also the Treasurer of the City/District Nutrition Program Coordinators of Metro Manila Association, Inc.
