title: Breast-feeding practices in a private maternity hospital.
abstract: An interview questionnaire study of 51 breast-feeding mothers was conducted to assess the stated policy of breast-feeding promotion in a private maternity hospital. A mean period of 20.6 hours elapsed after delivery before initiation of breast-feeding, and 39.9 hours elapsed before rooming-in took place. At least 47.1% of babies received prelacteal feeds, 94.1% were routinely test-weighed, and 56.9% received complementary feeds. A patient-administered questionnaire is proposed to provide hospital management and attendant medical practitioners with essential feedback that could assist them to close the gap between policy and practice.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics, University of Pretoria.
authors.forename: S D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Delport
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Bergh
authors.forename: I T
authors.initials: IT
authors.lastname: Hay
mesh_terms: D001942:Breast Feeding; D005260:Female; D006266:Health Education; D006771:Hospitals, Maternity; D006777:Hospitals, Proprietary; D006782:Hospitals, Special; D006801:Humans; D009042:Motivation; D049590:Postpartum Period; D011247:Pregnancy; D012380:Role; D013019:South Africa; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires