title: The number of Baby Friendly hospital practices experienced by mothers is positively associated with breastfeeding: a questionnaire survey.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Community Health Nursing, National Yang-Ming University, 155, Section. 2, Li-Nong St., Pei-Tou, Taipei 11221, Taiwan. lychien@ym.edu.tw
authors.forename: Li-Yin
authors.initials: LY
authors.lastname: Chien
authors.forename: Chen-Jei
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Tai
authors.forename: Kuei-Hui
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Chu
authors.forename: Yi-Li
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Ko
authors.forename: Yueh-Chi
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Chiu
mesh_terms: 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