Breastfeeding Supportive Services in Baby-Friendly Hospitals Positively Influenced Exclusive Breastfeeding Practice at Hospitalization Discharge and Six Months Postpartum

Lingling Li, Heqing Song, Yu Zhang, Hang Li, Mu Li, Hong Jiang, Yajuan Yang, Ying Wu, Chunyi Gu, Yulian Yu and Xu Qian
Additional contact information
Lingling Li: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shanghai Changzheng Hospital, Shanghai 200003, China
Heqing Song: School of Public Health, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
Yu Zhang: School of Public Health, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
Hang Li: School of Public Health, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
Mu Li: School of Public Health, University of Sydney, Sydney 2006, Australia
Hong Jiang: School of Public Health, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
Yajuan Yang: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shanghai Changzheng Hospital, Shanghai 200003, China
Ying Wu: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shanghai Changzheng Hospital, Shanghai 200003, China
Chunyi Gu: School of Public Health, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
Yulian Yu: Nursing Department, Shanghai Pudong New District People’s Hospital, Shanghai 200032, China
Xu Qian: School of Public Health, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 21, 1-12

Abstract: Background: Studies have shown that implementing the Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding of the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative can protect, promote, and support breastfeeding. However, few studies have valuated the quality of breastfeeding supportive services provided by Baby-Friendly Hospitals from the perspective of service users. Methods: This was a hospital-based prospective study, conducted at eight Baby-Friendly Hospitals with a total of 707 pregnant women in Shanghai, China between October 2016 and September 2021. Breastfeeding supportive services during hospitalization were assessed at childbirth discharge using a 12-question questionnaire based on the Chinese “Baby-Friendly Hospital Evaluation Standards”. Women were followed up on six months postpartum. The impact of breastfeeding supportive services during hospitalization on the exclusive breastfeeding at discharge and six months postpartum were assessed. Results: Of the 707 mothers who completed the survey at discharge, 526 were followed up on six months after delivery. The overall exclusive breastfeeding rate among participants was 34.4% at discharge and 52.1% at six months postpartum. Mothers who received better breastfeeding supportive services during hospitalization were more likely to practice exclusive breastfeeding at hospitalization discharge compared with mothers who received poorer services (aOR: 3.00; 95% CI: 2.08, 4.35; p < 0.001). Furthermore, they were also more likely to exclusively breastfeed at six months postpartum (aOR: 1.50; 95% CI: 1.03, 2.22; p = 0.033). Conclusion: Better breastfeeding supportive services during hospitalization were significantly associated with higher rate of exclusive breastfeeding at discharge and six months postpartum. More effective measures should be adopted to improve the implementation of the breastfeeding supportive services in Baby-Friendly Hospitals to promote exclusive breastfeeding and better maternal and child health.

Keywords: Baby-Friendly Hospital; exclusive breastfeeding; lactation; hospital practice; Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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