title: A controlled study on baby-friendly communities in Italy: methods and baseline data.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study reports the research methods and baseline data of a project aimed at assessing the effect of an intervention based on the 7 Steps of the Baby Friendly Community Initiative (BFCI) on the rate of exclusive breastfeeding at 6 months in Italy.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this controlled, nonrandomized study, nine Local Health Authorities were assigned to an early and nine to a late intervention group. Data on breastfeeding in infants followed up from birth to 12 months were gathered at baseline and in two subsequent rounds, after the 7 Steps were implemented in the early and late intervention groups, respectively. Step-down logistic regression analysis, corrected for the cluster effect, was used to compare breastfeeding rates between groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At baseline, there were no significant differences in breastfeeding rates at birth (n=1,781) and at 3 (n=1,854), 6 (n=1,601), and 12 (n=1,510; loss to follow-up, 15.2%) months between groups. At birth, 96% of mothers initiated breastfeeding, 72% exclusively (recall from birth). At 3 months, 77% of infants were breastfed, 54% exclusively with 24-hour and 46% with 7-day recall. At 6 months, the rate of any breastfeeding was 62%, with 10% and 7% exclusive breastfeeding with 24-hour and 7-day recall, respectively. At 12 months, 31% of the children continued to breastfeed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The project is ongoing and will allow estimation of the effect of the BFCI.
authors: Health Services Research and International Health, Institute for Maternal and Child Health IRCCS Burlo Garofolo, Trieste, Italy.
authors: Anna
authors: A
authors: Macaluso
authors: Maria Enrica
authors: ME
authors: Bettinelli
authors: Elise M
authors: EM
authors: Chapin
authors: Lílian
authors: L
authors: Córdova do Espírito Santo
authors: Rita
authors: R
authors: Mascheroni
authors: Anna Maria
authors: AM
authors: Murante
authors: Marcella
authors: M
authors: Montico
authors: Adriano
authors: A
authors: Cattaneo
mesh_terms: D001942:Breast Feeding / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003256:Community Participation; D005260:Female; D006291:Health Policy; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007224:Infant Care / Q000458:organization & administration; D007229:Infant Welfare; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008427:Maternal Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016134:Organizational Policy; D011247:Pregnancy; D016730:Program Development / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015397:Program Evaluation; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014480:United Nations
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