 | The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
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| The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
Brook L Kohls, MS1, Laurie Tiffin, MS, RD2, Donna Vaughan, MS, RD2, and Elizabeth Adams, PhD, RD1. (1) Food Science and Human Nutrition, Colorado State University, 205 Gifford Building, Fort Collins, CO 80523, 970-988-3209, blk091@lamar.colostate.edu, (2) WIC Supplemental Nutrition Branch, California Department of Health Services, 3901 Lennane Drive, Sacramento, CA 95834
Background: Breastfeeding provides superior nutrition for optimal growth and development of infants, yet many mothers do not initiate or sustain breastfeeding. The Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative (World Health Organization) lists specific recommendations for maternal care practices, with a goal of increasing the percentage of mothers who choose to breastfeed.
Objective: The objectives of this study were to describe infant feeding policies and practices of California hospitals, and evaluate relationships between hospital practices and breastfeeding rates observed at discharge.
Methods: The California WIC program and partners developed a survey to assess infant feeding policies and practices in hospitals. Surveys were administered to 291 California hospitals and completed by staff knowledgeable about breastfeeding procedures in each hospital. Infant feeding data were obtained during the newborn screening process. Breastfeeding rates by hospital were ranked into four categories and linked to survey data. Chi square analysis was used to evaluate relationships between breastfeeding practices and breastfeeding rates.
Results: The proportion of hospitals that ranked in the highest category for exclusive breastfeeding was greater among hospitals with policies that specify when breastfeeding should be initiated (20.4% v. 5.7%, P<0.05), encourage breastfeeding based upon hunger rather than a schedule (20.1% v. 0%, P<0.05), or promote initiation of breastfeeding within 30 minutes of birth, rather than within 1 or 2 hours (31.9% v. 18.3%, P<0.05).
Conclusions: Higher breastfeeding rates are associated with implementation of hospital policies that encourage breastfeeding following delivery. Further efforts are needed to make these policies pervasive among U.S. hospitals, promoting increased rates of breastfeeding.
Learning Objectives:
Keywords: Breast Feeding, Policy/Policy Development
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.