Breastfeeding in crisis: survey results of the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative.
OBJECTIVE
To assess current breastfeeding practices in hospital in South Africa.


METHODS
Survey conducted by means of a postal questionnaire for hospitals and a questionnaire based on the baby-friendly initiative action folder for mothers.


METHODS
All private and provincial hospitals according to the 1992 address list supplied by the Department of National Health: Readers of "Living and Loving" and breastfeeding liaison groups.


METHODS
The level of implementation of the "Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding"


RESULTS
Less than half of the responding hospitals reported having a written breastfeeding policy. Most hospitals have a shortage of specialized training in the support of breastfeeding. This is consistent with the outcome of the maternal questionnaire indicating that the average hospital is not baby friendly.


CONCLUSIONS
A concerted effort should be made by hospitals to implement the "Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding" and attention should be given to building breastfeeding skills into the curriculum for medical students, nurses and allied disciplines as well as in-service training for current health care workers.
Nikodem
C
C
Schelke
L
L
Enraght-Moony
L
L
Hofmeyr
G J
GJ
D001942:Breast Feeding; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006761:Hospitals; D006801:Humans; D009035:Mothers / Q000193:education* / Q000523:psychology; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000458:organization & administration*; D015397:Program Evaluation; D013019:South Africa; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires