 | The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
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| The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
Anne Merewood, MA, IBCLC, The Breastfeeding Center, Boston Medical Center, 850 Harrison Ave, ACC 5, Boston, MA 02118, 617-414-6455, anne.merewood@bmc.org and Barbara L. Philipp, MD, IBCLC, Division of General Pediatrics, Boston University School of Medicine, Maternity Building, 4th Floor, 91 East Concord Street, Boston, MA 02118.
Background: UNICEF and the WHO launched the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative in 1992 as a public health measure to increase breastfeeding rates around the globe. Although worldwide there are 16,000 Baby-Friendly hospitals, the US has only 32. Obstacles to US implementation include a lack of national legislation; suboptimal clinician breastfeeding knowledge, the influence of the infant formula industry, and the requirement that a Baby-Friendly hospital purchase all infant formula. Boston Medical Center (BMC) became Massachusetts’ only Baby-Friendly hospital in 1999. In August 2002, BMC’s success at raising breastfeeding rates among low-income families was recognized with a Best Practice Initiative award from the Assistant Secretary for Health, US Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). Currently, BMC holds a contract from the Office of Women’s Health, DHHS, as the Boston site for a national public health campaign aimed at increasing US breastfeeding rates, to be launched in August 2003. Objective: This presentation will demonstrate that large US hospitals can become Baby-Friendly, will offer suggestions for implementation, and will describe why Baby-Friendly status guarantees the best possible breastfeeding environment for mothers and infants. Method: Using the BMC model, the presentation will outline practical strategies which took an inner-city maternity unit from bottle feeding mode to a breast feeding model for best practice within four years. Results: This example will demonstrate that Baby-Friendly status is achievable and desirable. Implications: Conclusions and discussion will address the implementation of the Initiative at the national level, and include an evidence based assessment of the Initiative worldwide.
Learning Objectives:
Keywords: Breast Feeding, Change
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.