Quality Improvement Analyses Revealed a Hidden Shift Following a Retrospective Study on Breastfeeding Rates.

Abstract

We describe a retrospective cohort study of chorioamnionitis-exposed newborns 35 weeks and older gestation in the Mother-Baby Unit at our institution following a quality improvement project that implemented an SRS algorithm. We compared exclusive breastfeeding rates over 2 time periods, 33 months before and 15 months after SRS algorithm implementation. We completed bivariate comparisons using chi-square and Mann-Whitney U tests to understand the factors contributing to exclusive breastfeeding rates. In a secondary analysis, breastfeeding rates and demographic patterns were examined using p-charts. Following algorithm implementation, exclusive breastfeeding rates increased from 49% to 58% (P = 0.10) in chorioamnionitis-exposed newborns. Factors associated with increased exclusive breastfeeding included Caucasian race, English as the primary language, private insurance, vaginal delivery, and positive group B Streptococcus status. In the secondary analysis, the proportion of non-Hispanic mothers increased from 63% to 80% during the study. Despite SRS implementation, exclusive breastfeeding rates increased but not significantly, and certain sociodemographic factors remain associated with exclusive breastfeeding. Secondary analysis revealed an overall demographic shift affecting the dataset, highlighting the importance of thorough data analysis when evaluating a quality improvement project.