The number of Baby Friendly hospital practices experienced by mothers is positively associated with breastfeeding: a questionnaire survey.
OBJECTIVE
The objective of this study was to examine the association between number of Baby Friendly hospital practices (based on World Health Organization/United Nations Children's Fund Ten Steps to successful breastfeeding) experienced by mothers and breastfeeding initiation during hospital stay, breastfeeding at 1 month and breastfeeding at 3 months after delivery.


METHODS
The study population consisted of mothers who gave birth to infants without congenital anomalies at hospitals in Taiwan from June to October of 2003, inclusively. A total of 2079 mothers participated in the postal questionnaire survey.


RESULTS
Only 1% of women reported experiencing all 10-step practices, while 5.7% of women did not report experiencing any Baby Friendly practices. Mothers who delivered at certified Baby Friendly hospitals experienced more 10-step practices. The level of breastfeeding increased as the number of 10-step practices experienced increased at all three time points when confounders were controlled in the model.


CONCLUSIONS
This study found a dose-response relationship between number of 10-step practices experienced and breastfeeding. However, very few women in Taiwan reported experiencing all 10 steps. Our findings highlight the need for greater attention to implement the 10 steps.
Chien
Li-Yin
LY
Institute of Community Health Nursing, National Yang-Ming University, 155, Section. 2, Li-Nong St., Pei-Tou, Taipei 11221, Taiwan. lychien@ym.edu.tw
Tai
Chen-Jei
CJ
Chu
Kuei-Hui
KH
Ko
Yi-Li
YL
Chiu
Yueh-Chi
YC
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health; D001942:Breast Feeding / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D017408:Guidelines as Topic; D006272:Health Facility Environment / Q000458:organization & administration; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000458:organization & administration; D015285:Hospital-Patient Relations; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D016015:Logistic Models; D008875:Middle Aged; D009035:Mothers / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D015279:Organizational Culture; D016134:Organizational Policy; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D011181:Postnatal Care / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000523:psychology*; D012944:Social Support; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013624:Taiwan; D014944:World Health Organization