New Standards for Maternal Safety in Birthing Hospitals

Monitoring the prevalence of breastfeeding is one of the actions provided for in Italian National Health System. This study aims to observe the prevalence of breastfeeding in a representative set of birthing hospitals in the province of Catania, in Sicily, Italy, to assess the factors influencing women in their decisions to breastfeed during hospitalization after delivery. We conducted an observational study on 3813 questionnaires administered to mothers of newborns during their hospital stay from the years 2016 to 2018 in eight hospitals of various types. The average maternal age was 31.3 years ± 5.8. Sixty-nine percent of women did not attend a prenatal course. From childbirth to discharge, the percentage of women who breastfed was 88%, of whom 45% did exclusive breastfeeding. Only 35% of women who had a caesarean section adopted exclusive breastfeeding. In our experience, rooming-in was not associated with an increase in breastfeeding. We observed that both attendance to prenatal courses and the mother’s education level played a minor role in influencing the mother’s decision in breastfeeding A fairly high percentage of exclusive breastfeeding, 75%, was attained just in one hospital, where dedicated staff was deployed to encourage breastfeeding. The lowest percentage (12%) of exclusive breastfeeding was observed in a large private accredited health facility. Hospital presence of professionals trained in human lactation is a smart investment for society.

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Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative and Breastfeeding Among WIC-Participating Infants in Los Angeles County

Journal of Human Lactation ◽

10.1177/0890334417716118 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 33 (4) ◽

pp. 677-683 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Tabashir Z. Nobari ◽

Lu Jiang ◽

May C. Wang ◽

Shannon E. Whaley

Keyword(s):

Los Angeles ◽

Low Income ◽

Exclusive Breastfeeding ◽

Los Angeles County ◽

Recent Effort ◽

Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative ◽

Breastfeeding Rates ◽

Low Income Mothers ◽

Birthing Hospitals ◽

Hospital Practices

Background: Breastfeeding rates among low-income infants lag behind national rates. Policies such as the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI) improve breastfeeding and may benefit low-income populations such as those who participate in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). A recent effort exists to increase the number of Baby-Friendly designated hospitals in Los Angeles County (LAC). Research aim: This study aimed to determine whether the BFHI effort has had a beneficial effect on Baby-Friendly hospital practices in LAC hospitals and to determine if birthing hospitals’ Baby-Friendly designation status is associated with breastfeeding outcomes among WIC-participating children in LAC. Methods: Data came from the Los Angeles County WIC Survey (2008, 2011, 2014), which is conducted on a random sample of approximately 5,000 WIC families living in LAC. The prevalence of three Baby-Friendly hospital practices was examined between 2008 and 2014. Logistic regression was used to examine the association of birthing hospitals’ Baby-Friendly designation status with any breastfeeding and exclusive breastfeeding at 1, 3, and 6 months. Results: The rates of Baby-Friendly hospital practices have improved since 2008. Although no association existed with rates of any breastfeeding, being born in a hospital designated Baby-Friendly or in the process of obtaining this designation was significantly associated with an increased odds of exclusive breastfeeding at 1 and 3 months. Conclusion: The BFHI may help achieve recommended exclusive breastfeeding rates, especially for low-income populations. Additional strategies are needed to support low-income mothers in LAC with all levels of breastfeeding.

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