A training program on exclusive breastfeeding in maternity wards.
OBJECTIVE
To estimate whether a 3-day training program for health professionals was followed by changes in maternity ward practices and in the rate of exclusive breastfeeding.


METHODS
A retrospective study in the maternity ward of a French university hospital involved two cross-sectional samples of 323 mother-infant pairs in 1997 and 324 in 2000.


RESULTS
The rate of exclusive breastfeeding at discharge increased from 15.8% (12.0-20.2) in the before sample to 35.2% (30.0-40.6) in the after sample (P<0.01). This result persisted in the multivariable analysis [adjusted odds ratio, 2.74 (1.72-4.37)]. Infants in the before sample were less likely to be breastfed within 1 h of birth (9.2% vs. 16.9%, P=0.01), to room-in 24 h/day (56.6% vs. 72.6%, P<0.01), and were more likely to receive formula supplementation (77.6% vs. 54.0%, P<0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
A training program for health professionals can be effective in improving maternity ward practices and increasing exclusive breastfeeding rate at discharge.
D000328:Adult; D001942:Breast Feeding; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004496:Education, Continuing; D005260:Female; D005602:France; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000193:education*; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009775:Obstetrics and Gynecology Department, Hospital; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D010351:Patient Discharge; D012189:Retrospective Studies