title: Breastfeeding policy and practices at the general paediatric outpatient clinic of a teaching hospital in Lagos, Nigeria.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Hospitals have a role to play in supporting, protecting and promoting breastfeeding. The aim of this study was to describe hospital breastfeeding policy and practices and breastfeeding rates among mothers attending General Paediatric Outpatient Clinic at a tertiary hospital in Lagos, Nigeria.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a cross-sectional study involving paediatric nurses and doctors, as well as the mothers who brought their child to the General Paediatric Outpatient Clinic. Two sets of questionnaires, different in content, were administered to doctors and nurses, and to mothers of children aged 6-24 months, to assess hospital policy and breastfeeding rates, respectively. Stepwise multiple logistic regression analysis was used to examine factors associated with duration of breastfeeding.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Although the hospital had a written breastfeeding policy copies of the policy were not clearly displayed in any of the units in the Paediatric department. Almost half the staff (48%; 60/125) were not aware of the policy. The hospital had no breastfeeding support group. Nearly three quarters (92/125) of the staff had received lactation management training. 36% (112/311) of mothers exclusively breastfed for six months, 42% (129/311) had stopped breastfeeding at the time of the survey. 67% (207/311) of babies were given infant formula, 85% (175/207) before 6 months. Women who had antenatal care in private hospitals and were Christian were more likely to breastfeed exclusively for 6 months. Low maternal education was the only factor associated with breastfeeding longer than 12 months.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Breastfeeding practices and policy implementation at this outpatient clinic were suboptimal. We have identified a need for interventions to increase knowledge of the benefits of breastfeeding and to provide support for its longer term duration. We suggest that BFHI be considered across all facilities concerned with infant and early child health to disseminate appropriate information and promote an increase in exclusive breastfeeding for six months as well as the duration of breastfeeding.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Lagos State University College of Medicine, PMB 21266 Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Idowu O
authors.initials: IO
authors.lastname: Senbanjo
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Lagos State University College of Medicine, Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Kazeem A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Oshikoya
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Lagos State University College of Medicine, Ikeja, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Okeoghene A
authors.initials: OA
authors.lastname: Ogbera
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Health and Primary Health Care, Lagos State University College of Medicine, Ikeja, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Kikelomo O
authors.initials: KO
authors.lastname: Wright
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Lagos State University College of Medicine, PMB 21266 Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Alexandra L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Anga
keywords: Breastfeeding; Nigeria; Out-patient clinic; Policy; Practices