Improvements In Breastfeeding Practices Research Articles

Countries' experiences scaling up national breastfeeding, protection, promotionand support programmes: Comparative case studies analysis.

Scaling up effective interventions, policies and programmes can improve breastfeeding (BF) outcomes. Furthermore, considerable interest exists in learning from relatively recent successful efforts that can inform further scaling up, with appropriate adaptations, across countries. The purpose of this four‐country case studies analysis was to examine why and how improvements in BF practices occurred across four contrasting countries; Burkina Faso, the Philippines, Mexico and the United States of America. Literature reviews and key informant interviews were conducted to document BF trends over time, in addition to why and how BF protection, promotion and support policies and programmes were implemented at a national level. A qualitative thematic analysis was conducted. The ‘Breastfeeding Gear Model’ and RE‐AIM (Reach; Effectiveness; Adoption; Implementation; and Maintenance) frameworks were used to understand and map the factors facilitating or hindering the scale up of the national programmes and corresponding improvements in BF practices. Each of the studied countries had different processes and timing to implement and scale up programmes to promote, protect and support breastfeeding. However, in all four countries, evidence‐based advocacy, multisectoral political will, financing, research and evaluation, and coordination were key to fostering an enabling environment for BF. Furthermore, in all countries, lack of adequate maternity protection and the aggressive marketing of the breast‐milk substitutes industry remains a strong source of negative feedback loops that are undermining investments in BF programmes. Country‐specific best practices included innovative legislative measures (Philippines), monitoring and evaluation systems (United States of America), engagement of civil society (Mexico) and behavior change communication BF promotion (Burkina Faso) initiatives. There is an urgent need to improve maternity protection and to strongly enforce the WHO Code of Marketing of Breast‐Milk Substitutes.

Breastfeeding practices in neonatal wards in Spain. Neo-BFHI international survey

IntroductionIn 2017, a worldwide survey was conducted on compliance with the practices promoted by Neo-BFHI (Baby-friendly Hospital Initiative expansion to neonatal wards). ObjectiveTo present the results of the Spanish wards that participated in the global survey and compare them with those obtained internationally. Material and methodsCross-sectional study through a survey on compliance with the Neo-BFHI (“Three basic principles”, “Ten steps adapted to neonatal wards” and “the compliance with the International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes” and subsequent relevant World Health Assembly resolutions). Compliance was calculated as the mean in each indicator and a final mean score for each neonatal unit. For the partial and final scores for each country and at the international level, the median was used. All scores ranged between 0 and 100. ResultsThe response rate in Spain was 90%. The range of the national mean for neonatal wards were from 37 to 99, with no differences in the final score according to the level of care. The global score for Spain (72) is below the international median (77) and this also occurs in 8 of 14 items. The neonatal wards from BFHI designated hospitals, obtained a significantly higher mean global score, and in 9 of 14 items than the non-accredited ones. ConclusionsBoth international and national results indicate an improvement in breast feeding practices in neonatal units. The benefits of the BFHI accreditation of maternity reach neonatal wards. Spain has several key points below the international score.

Breast-Feeding Patterns, Time to Initiation, and Mortality Risk among Newborns in Southern Nepal

Initiation of breast-feeding within 1 h after birth has been associated with reduced neonatal mortality in a rural Ghanaian population. In South Asia, however, breast-feeding patterns and low birth weight rates differ and this relationship has not been quantified. Data were collected during a community-based randomized trial of the impact of topical chlorhexidine antisepsis interventions on neonatal mortality and morbidity in southern Nepal. In-home visits were conducted on d 1–4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 21, and 28 to collect longitudinal information on timing of initiation and pattern of breast-feeding. Multivariable regression modeling was used to estimate the association between death and breast-feeding initiation time. Analysis was based on 22,838 breast-fed newborns surviving to 48 h. Within 1 h of birth, 3.4% of infants were breast-fed and 56.6% were breast-fed within 24 h of birth. Partially breast-fed infants (72.6%) were at higher mortality risk [relative risk (RR) = 1.77; 95% CI = 1.32–2.39] than those exclusively breast-fed. There was a trend (P = 0.03) toward higher mortality with increasing delay in breast-feeding initiation. Mortality was higher among late (≥24 h) compared with early (<24 h) initiators (RR = 1.41; 95% CI = 1.08–1.86) after adjustment for low birth weight, preterm birth, and other covariates. Improvements in breast-feeding practices in this setting may reduce neonatal mortality substantially. Approximately 7.7 and 19.1% of all neonatal deaths may be avoided with universal initiation of breast-feeding within the first day or hour of life, respectively. Community-based breast-feeding promotion programs should remain a priority, with renewed emphasis on early initiation in addition to exclusiveness and duration of breast-feeding.

Can improvements in breast-feeding practices reduce neonatal mortality in developing countries?

Objective: to review the literature on the relationship between breast-feeding practices in the first month of life and neonatal mortality.Methods: Medline and Cochrane databases were searched using the keywords breastfeeding, and neonatal mortality, supplemented with additional searches using the keywords developing countries, colostrum, infant feeding and infant mortality, hypoglaecemia, hypothermia, breastfeeding practices, and suckling.Findings:breast feeding helps prevent hypothermia and hypoglycaemia in newborn babies, which are contributory causes of early neonatal deaths especially among low birth weight and premature babies. During the late neonatal period, most deaths in developing countries are due to infections such as sepsis, acute respiratory tract infection, meningitis, omphalitis and diarrhoea. Feeding colostrum and breast feeding, especially exclusive breast feeding, protects against such deaths.Key conclusions and implications for practice: in most developing countries, nearly all women breast feed in the first month of life, but often breast feeding is delayed beyond the first hour after birth, and exclusive breast feeding is not usually practised. Policies and training of staff of maternity centres and hospitals can encourage early initiation of breast feeding and exclusive breast feeding. Midwives can support community-based efforts to support exclusive breast feeding. Breast feeding plays an important role in reducing neonatal mortality and should be strongly emphasised by programmes attempting to reduce neonatal mortality.