Evaluation of a lactation intervention program to encourage breastfeeding: a longitudinal study

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Maternal and Child Health
• Healthcare Policy Implementation

Background:

• Hospital breastfeeding policies significantly influence infant feeding practices.
• Standardized guidelines like the WHO/UNICEF 'Ten Steps' aim to promote successful breastfeeding.
• Evaluating policy implementation is crucial for understanding real-world impact.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the effectiveness of a revised breastfeeding policy based on the WHO/UNICEF 'Ten Steps'.
• To determine the impact of hospital practices on breastfeeding initiation and duration.
• To compare breastfeeding rates and maternal knowledge/attitudes between intervention and control groups.

Main Methods:

• A 3-year quasi-experimental pre-post study in 12 hospitals involving 4614 lactating women.
• Utilized Baby-Friendly hospital Initiative training and questionnaires.
• Compared breastfeeding rates (exclusive, mixed, overall) and knowledge/attitude scores at multiple postpartum intervals.

Main Results:

• The experimental group showed significantly higher exclusive and overall breastfeeding rates (p < 0.001).
• Breastfeeding rates demonstrated a significant increasing trend annually (p < 0.001).
• Maternal knowledge and attitudes towards breastfeeding were more positive in the experimental group, correlating with longer breastfeeding duration.

Conclusions:

• The 'Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding' policy implementation positively impacts breastfeeding rates.
• Hospital-based interventions can effectively improve breastfeeding knowledge, attitudes, and duration.
• Sustained implementation of evidence-based policies is vital for public health outcomes in infant feeding.