title: Impact of a Baby-Friendly hospital on breastfeeding indicators in Shaqlawa district in Erbil governorate, Kurdistan region of Iraq.
abstract: This study aimed to assess the impact of the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative on WHO-defined breastfeeding indicators in Shaqlawa district in Kurdistan region of Iraq. A household survey was carried out on a purposive non-probability sample of 200 mothers with a child aged < 30 months. Mothers were interviewed using a structured form to determine demographic data and feeding practices of the most recent child. The rate of early initiation of breastfeeding was 38.1%, exclusive breastfeeding was 15.4% and continued breastfeeding was 61.0% and 39.5% at 1 and 2 years of age respectively. A significant relationship was found between delivery at the Baby- Friendly accredited hospital and early initiation of breastfeeding but not with exclusive or continued breastfeeding. While continued breastfeeding at 1 year and 2 year was good, early initiation and exclusive breastfeeding indicators were not at an acceptable level, which indicates an ineffective role for the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing, College of Nursing, Hawler Medical University, Erbil, Iraq.
authors.forename: N Z
authors.initials: NZ
authors.lastname: Shaker
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing, College of Nursing, Hawler Medical University, Erbil, Iraq.
authors.forename: S S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Hasan
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing, College of Nursing, Hawler Medical University, Erbil, Iraq.
authors.forename: Z A
authors.initials: ZA
authors.lastname: Ismail
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001942:Breast Feeding / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007493:Iraq; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014944:World Health Organization