Promotion and support of breastfeeding within the baby-friendly hospital initiative programme in Slovakia

Abstract

Aim: To find the level of support and assistance provided to mothers shortly after birth, and the amount of information on breastfeeding provided to them by health professionals. Design: A quantitative study with a cross-sectional design. Methods: The data were collected in two maternity hospitals in central Slovakia between June 2019 and the end of January 2020. The sample consisted of 200 women after childbirth. The standardised Questionnaire for Breastfeeding Mother was used. Results: During hospital stay, 54% of mothers reported exclusive breastfeeding, and 14% stated no forms of breast milk substitute were provided. The first contact with the newborn lasted an hour or more for 11% of the mothers, and 48% were allowed some degree of bonding through skin-to-skin contact. Only 37.5% of the mothers were given breastfeeding assistance within six hours of the birth. There was a significant difference (p < 0.001) between type of delivery and the time when mothers were first allowed contact and skin-to-skin contact with newborns. Conclusion: The results indicate insufficient adherence to breastfeeding interventions, particularly in connection with surgical delivery. It is essential to pay more attention to assistance with breastfeeding, and to follow the Baby-friendly Hospital Initiative recommendations (BFHI).