Infant Feeding and Institutional Adherence with the Baby-Friendly Initiative: An Assessment through Maternal Experience and Review of Policy and Protocol

• Main Authors: Fullerton, Laura Mary, Gustafson, Diana L.
• Format: Report
• Language: English
• Published: Memorial University of Newfoundland 2015
• Subjects: Chalmers; Newfoundland
• Online Access: https://research.library.mun.ca/8393/; https://research.library.mun.ca/8393/1/Fullerton_%26_Gustafson._Infant_feeding_and_institutional_adherence_with_the_BFI.pdf

The World Health Organization and the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund recommend exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life for optimal infant health and development. Exclusive breastfeeding means feeding an infant with breastmilk and no other liquids, foods, or breastmilk substitutes. Previous research indicates that the benefits of breastfeeding extend beyond infancy and childhood to influence health outcomes throughout the life course. The rates of exclusive breastfeeding in Newfoundland and Labrador for the recommended six-month duration are significantly lower than the national average at 5.8% and 14.4% respectively (Chalmers et al., 2009). The Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI) is a global health promotion initiative committed to improving maternal-infant health by improving rates of exclusive breastfeeding. The initiative and its Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding provide guidelines to hospitals and birthing facilities for implementing evidence-informed standards for patient care in pregnancy, childbirth, and the early post-partum period with a goal of improving breastfeeding initiation, duration, and exclusivity. The purpose of this research was to examine hospital adherence with infant feeding guidelines at the Janeway Children’s Hospital/Health Sciences Centre in St. John’s, NL. This interpretative phenomenological study conducted in 2012 included a systematic review of hospital infant feeding policies and protocols and an exploration of maternal healthcare and infant feeding experiences generated from individual and focus group interviews. The study revealed discrepancies between BFI practice guidelines and hospital infant feeding healthcare practices, specifically a lack of full adherence with Steps 3-9 of the BFI, and inconclusive evidence about adherence with Step 10. These findings reveal opportunities for improving breastfeeding initiation, duration and exclusivity. Nine key recommendations are to: 1. Update existing policies: Update Eastern Health ...