title: Implementing Legislation to Improve Hospital Support of Breastfeeding, New York State, 2009-2013.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Increasing breastfeeding is a public health priority supported by strong evidence. In 2009, New York passed Public Health Law § 2505-a, requiring that hospitals support the World Health Organization's (WHO's) recommended "Ten Steps for Successful Breastfeeding" (Ten Steps). This legislation strengthened and codified existing New York State's hospital perinatal regulations. The purpose of this study was to assess hospital policy compliance with New York laws and regulations related to breastfeeding.
  
  
  METHODS
  In 2009, 2011, and 2013, we collected written breastfeeding policies from 129 New York hospitals that provided maternity services. A policy review tool was developed to quantify compliance with the 28 components of breastfeeding support specified in New York Codes, Rules, and Regulations and the new legislation. In 2010 and 2012, hospitals received individual feedback from the New York State Department of Health, which informed hospitals in 2012 that formal regulatory enforcement, including potential fines, would be implemented for noncompliance.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The number of components included in hospital policies increased from a mean of 10.4 in 2009, to 16.8 in 2011, and to 27.1 in 2013) (P < .001); a greater increase occurred from 2011 through 2013 than from 2009 through 2011 (P < .001). The percentage of hospitals with fully compliant policies increased from 0% in 2009, to 5% in 2011, and to 75% in 2013 (P < .001), and the percentage that included all WHO's 10 steps increased from 0% to 9% to 87%, respectively (P < .001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although legislation or regulations requiring certain practices are important, monitoring with enforcement accelerates, and may be necessary for, full implementation. Future research is needed to evaluate the impact of improved hospital breastfeeding policies on breastfeeding outcomes in New York.
authors.affiliation: New York State Department of Health, Division of Chronic Disease Prevention, Empire State Plaza, Corning Tower, Rm 1042, Albany, NY 12237. Email: barbara.dennison@health.ny.gov.
authors.forename: Barbara A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Dennison
authors.affiliation: Albany Medical School, Albany, New York.
authors.forename: Bethany A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Hawke
authors.affiliation: New York State Department of Health, Albany, New York.
authors.forename: Rachael A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Ruberto
authors.affiliation: New York State Department of Health, Albany, New York.
authors.forename: Deborah J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Gregg
mesh_terms: D001942:Breast Feeding; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000517:prevention & control; D055317:Evidence-Based Practice; D005260:Female; D019983:Guideline Adherence / Q000639:trends*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006284:Health Plan Implementation / Q000379:methods*; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods; D006740:Hospital Administrators; D006771:Hospitals, Maternity / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D009035:Mothers; D009518:New York; D016134:Organizational Policy; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic / Q000592:standards; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care / Q000592:standards*; D014944:World Health Organization