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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
Acta Paediatrica (Oslo, Norway : 1992)
|October 20, 2010
Summary
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.
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