Effects of hospital policies and practices on initiation and duration of breastfeeding.
Child Care Health Dev
; 35(1): 106-11, 2009 Jan.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-19054007
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
The aim of this study was to verify if hospital policies and practices, independently of main maternal sociodemographic determinants, influence initiation and duration of breastfeeding.METHODS:
The study was carried out at the Immunization Centre of Messina where all infants born in the four maternity wards of Messina are vaccinated, using a structured questionnaire, constructed in conformity with the methodology suggested by the WHO.RESULTS:
Data analysis, performed by non-parametric and multivariate analysis of variance and by Kaplan-Meier curves, showed that the highest probability rate (P < 0.001) of initiation and duration of breastfeeding, independently of maternal age, parity, education levels, smoke and work was found in infants born in a University Hospital, characterized by earlier times of first suckling, longer hospital stay and higher rate of exclusive breastfeeding at discharge.CONCLUSION:
Our data emphasize the role and responsibility of hospital policies and practices in the promotion, and in the duration of breastfeeding.
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Breast Feeding
/
Decision Making
/
Health Promotion
Type of study:
Clinical_trials
/
Prognostic_studies
/
Qualitative_research
Limits:
Adult
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Newborn
Country/Region as subject:
Europa
Language:
En
Journal:
Child Care Health Dev
Year:
2009
Document type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Italy