PC62 BREASTFEEDING AND BABY FRIENDLY HOSPITAL INITIATIVE IN SLOVENIA

Abstract

Introduction: Our aims were achieving the first national coverage data for the in hospital breastfeeding rates in Slovenia over nine years period and evaluation of influence of the Baby-Friendly Hospital (BFH) Initiative on initiation rate of breastfeeding in Slovenia. Methods: Information of perinatal data of mothers and their infants, hospital of birth and breastfeeding have been routinely collected in all 14 maternity hospitals in Slovenia. Information has been transferred to a computer database of Institute of Public Health of Slovenia. The present study includes data for all infants born in Slovenia during nine years period from 1993 to 2001 (n = 167,085). Three categories of breastfeeding practices in the early postpartum period (days 3–6 after delivery) were considered: exclusive breastfeeding (only human milk), breastfeeding (human milk or a combination of human milk and formula milk or cow’s milk) and not breastfeeding at all. Ever-breastfeeding rate (in %) was calculated as sum of exclusive breastfeeding rate (%) and breastfeeding rate (%). The course of BFH Initiative in Slovenia was followed. Results: Average a) exclusive breastfeeding, b) breastfeeding and c) ever-breastfeeding rates (min, year - max, year) during the observed nine years period were: a) 90.4 % (87.0 %, 1999 –92.7 %, 1994), b) 6.3 % (6.0 %, 2000 – 10.3 %, 1999) and c) 96.7% (96.0 %, 1995 – 97.7 %, 2001). Ever-breastfeeding rate has been slightly, but steadily increasing since 1995 by 0.3 % per year. BFH Initiative has started in 1998. Till 2001 10 out of 14 maternity hospitals were awarded BFH plaque. In the year 2001 85% infants in Slovenia were born in BFH, which is by far the highest rate among 11 new EU Member States (range in other 10 countries: 2 – 30 % infants born in BFH; WHO publication EUR/03/5045442). Conclusion: This is the first study to present rates of breast-feeding initiation in the first postpartum period and BFH Initiative in Slovenia. The prevalence of initiation of breastfeeding in Slovenia has been high during the observed nine-year period. Ever-breastfeeding rate, though high, has been still increasing during the past six years, from 96.0% (1995) to 97.7 % (2001). The majority, 85%, of infants are born in BFH. Our goals are to further promote early breastfeeding initiation and continuation as well as to achieve national data on breastfeeding rates during the first 12 months of life.