title: Bringing Baby-Friendly to the Indian Health Service: A Systemwide Approach to Implementation.
abstract: The Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI) increases exclusive breastfeeding. Breastfeeding protects against obesity and diabetes, conditions to which American Indians and Alaska Natives are particularly prone. As part of the First Lady'sLet's Move! in Indian Countryinitiative, the US Department of Health and Human Services' Indian Health Service (IHS) began implementing the BFHI in 2011. The IHS administers 13 US birthing hospitals. There are 5 tribally administered hospitals in the lower 48 states that receive IHS funding, and the IHS encouraged them to seek Baby-Friendly designation also. In the 13 federally administered hospitals, the IHS implemented a Baby-Friendly infant feeding policy, extensive clinician training, and Baby-Friendly compatible medical records. All hospitals also became compliant with the World Health Organization's International Code of Marketing of Breast-Milk Substitutes. Strategies and solutions were shared systemwide via webinars and conference calls. Quality improvement methods, technical assistance, and site visits assisted with the implementation process. Between 2011 and December 2014, 100% (13 of 13) of IHS federally administered hospitals gained Baby-Friendly designation. The first Baby-Friendly hospitals in Arizona, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, and South Dakota were all IHS sites; 6% of all US Baby-Friendly hospitals are currently IHS hospitals. One tribal site has also been Baby-Friendly designated and 3 of the 5 remaining tribally administered hospitals in the lower 48 states are pursuing Baby-Friendly status. Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative implementation systemwide is possible in a US government agency serving a high-risk, underprivileged population. Other systems looking to implement the BFHI can learn from the IHS model.
authors.affiliation: Indian Health Service, Rockville, MD, USA.
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Karol
authors.affiliation: Public Health Nursing, Indian Health Service, Rockville, MD, USA.
authors.forename: Tina
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tah
authors.affiliation: United States Agency for International Development, Washington, DC, USA.
authors.forename: Clifton
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kenon
authors.affiliation: Hopi Hospital, Polacca, AZ, USA.
authors.forename: Jenna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Meyer
authors.affiliation: Navajo Area, Indian Health Service, Rockville, MD, USA.
authors.forename: Jeannette
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yazzie
authors.affiliation: Division of Nursing Services, Indian Health Service, Rockville, MD, USA.
authors.forename: Celissa
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Stephens
authors.affiliation: Boston University Medical School, Boston, MA, USA anne.merewood@bmc.org.
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Merewood
mesh_terms: D001942:Breast Feeding / Q000208:ethnology*; D005260:Female; D006291:Health Policy; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006303:Health Services, Indigenous / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006771:Hospitals, Maternity / Q000458:organization & administration; D006801:Humans; D007198:Indians, North American; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D011181:Postnatal Care / Q000379:methods / Q000458:organization & administration*; D014481:United States; D016549:United States Indian Health Service / Q000458:organization & administration*
keywords: Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative; Indian Health Service; Native American; breastfeeding