Becoming baby-friendly in Spain: a quality-improvement process

Ricardo García-de-León-González1, Antoni Oliver-Roig, Mónica Hernández-Martínez

  • 1Department of Paediatrics, Virgen del Castillo Hospital, Yecla, Spain. ricardo.garciadeleon@carm.es

Insights

Implementing quality improvement interventions, including training and support, successfully increased compliance with the Baby-friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI) and significantly boosted breastfeeding rates in infants.

Area of Science:

  • Maternal and Child Health
  • Healthcare Quality Improvement
  • Public Health Interventions

Background:

  • The Baby-friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI) aims to promote and support optimal infant feeding practices.
  • Achieving BFHI compliance requires systematic quality improvement efforts within healthcare settings.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the implementation process and impact of a quality-improvement intervention designed to achieve BFHI compliance.
  • To assess changes in BFHI criteria adherence and breastfeeding rates following the intervention.

Main Methods:

  • A prospective study was conducted at Yecla Hospital, Spain, involving 1273 infants born between 1997 and 2005.
  • Interventions included process-oriented training, audit and feedback, quality improvement cycles, and breastfeeding support resources.
  • Breastfeeding rates and BFHI compliance were measured before, during, and after the intervention period.

Main Results:

  • Progressive increase in compliance with BFHI Global Criteria, with all criteria met by 2004.
  • Gradual increase in the median duration of breastfeeding throughout the intervention.
  • Significantly higher likelihood of breastfeeding at various ages for infants born in 2005 compared to 1997.

Conclusions:

  • Quality improvement interventions incorporating participation, training, audit, feedback, and resource provision are effective for BFHI implementation.
  • These interventions are associated with a substantial increase in breastfeeding rates, supporting public health goals.
Abstract

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