Breastfeeding care in Ohio hospitals: a gap between research and practice.
OBJECTIVE
To assess current breastfeeding care in Ohio hospitals and compare that care to research-based principles.


METHODS
Survey.


METHODS
Ohio hospitals that provide maternity care.


METHODS
All 141 Ohio hospitals that provide maternity care were invited to participate. One-hundred sixteen (83%) hospitals returned usable surveys completed by obstetric nurse managers.


METHODS
A 38-item questionnaire provided data on hospital demographics and information regarding the care of breastfeeding mother-infant dyads.


RESULTS
Research-based practices common in Ohio's hospitals include demand feeding, breastfeeding education, and breastfeeding as the initial neonatal feeding. Common non-research-based practices include supplemental fluid administration, postpartum nipple treatments, mandatory initial nursery stays, limited sucking time, restricted maternal-infant contact, distribution of formula packs, minimal follow-up care, and the suspension of breastfeeding for hyperbilirubinemia.


CONCLUSIONS
Despite positive changes in perinatal care, a number of non-research-based practices persist in Ohio hospitals for the care of the breastfeeding mother-infant dyad.
Freeman
C K
CK
College of Nursing, Ohio State University, Columbus 43210.
Lowe
N K
NK
D000359:Aftercare / Q000592:standards; D001942:Breast Feeding; D002983:Clinical Competence / Q000592:standards*; D003625:Data Collection; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016389:Maternal-Child Nursing / Q000592:standards*; D015403:Nursing Evaluation Research; D015399:Nursing Research / Q000592:standards*; D009820:Ohio; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000592:standards; D011181:Postnatal Care / Q000592:standards*; D011787:Quality of Health Care; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires