Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Development of Human Microbiota

Development of Human Microbiota

The human microbiota begins developing at birth and undergoes continual change as we age. Infancy marks a critical period of microbial sensitivity, offering a “window of opportunity” during which beneficial microbes help mature the immune system. By age three, children typically develop a more stable and diverse microbial community. Newborns acquire microbes from their immediate environment; vaginal delivery favors maternal vaginal microbes, while cesarean births favor microbes from the skin...

Development of the Oral Microbiota

Development of the Oral Microbiota

The establishment of the oral microbiome begins before birth, challenging the long-held belief that the fetal oral cavity is sterile. The presence of oral microbes such as Streptococcus and Fusobacterium in amniotic fluid suggests that microbial exposure may occur in utero, potentially through translocation from the maternal oral or gastrointestinal tract. This early colonization primes the neonatal immune system and sets the stage for subsequent microbial succession. Maternal health,...

Study Designs in Epidemiology

Study Designs in Epidemiology

Epidemiological study designs are fundamental tools for investigating the distribution, determinants, and control of health conditions in populations. They help researchers understand the relationships between exposures and outcomes, and they broadly fall into two categories: "observational" and "experimental" studies.
Observational studies are those where the researcher does not intervene but rather observes natural variations. They include cross-sectional, cohort, and case-control studies.

Bias in Epidemiological Studies

Bias in Epidemiological Studies

Biases can arise at various stages of research, from study design and data collection to analysis and interpretation. Recognizing and addressing these biases is essential to ensure the validity and reliability of epidemiological findings.Broadly speaking, biases in epidemiology fall into three main categories: selection bias, information bias, and confounding. A more detailed description of possible biases is:

Types of Biopharmaceutical Studies: Controlled and Non-Controlled Approaches

Types of Biopharmaceutical Studies: Controlled and Non-Controlled Approaches

Biopharmaceutical studies constitute a vital field aiming to enhance drug delivery methods and refine therapeutic approaches, drawing upon diverse interdisciplinary knowledge. In research methodologies, the choice between controlled and non-controlled studies significantly influences the study's reliability and accuracy.
Non-controlled studies, commonly employed for initial exploration, lack a control group, rendering them susceptible to biases and external influences. In contrast, controlled...

Observational Studies

Observational Studies

Observational studies are a type of analytical study where researchers observe events without any interventions. In other words, the researcher does not influence the response variable or the experiment's outcome.
There are three types of observational studies – Prospective, retrospective, and cross-sectional.
Prospective Study
Prospective studies, also known as longitudinal or cohort studies, are carried out by collecting future data from groups sharing similar characteristics. One example of...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

DPYD and UGT1A1 Genotype-Based Dosing for Fluoropyrimidines and Irinotecan Chemotherapy: Variant-Specific Impact on Treatment Intensity and Toxicity.

International journal of cancer·2026

Same author

Immunotherapy with anti-PD-1 or PD-L1 in advanced ovarian cancer: A meta-analysis of randomized trials.

Cancer treatment reviews·2026

Same author

Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine Clinical Protocol #7: Model Maternity Policy Supportive of Breastfeeding.

Breastfeeding medicine : the official journal of the Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine·2025

Same author

The urgent need to end sponsorship of healthcare professional associations by the commercial milk formula industry.

Future healthcare journal·2025

Same author

Assessing Sustainable and Healthy Diets in Large-Scale Surveys: Validity and Applicability of a Dietary Index Based on a Brief Food Group Propensity Questionnaire Representing the EAT-Lancet Planetary Health Diet.

The Journal of nutrition·2025

Same author

Impact of opioid-free general anesthesia with locoregional blocks during breast cancer surgery on systemic inflammatory response: results from a randomized controlled trial.

Regional anesthesia and pain medicine·2025

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 14, 2026

A Novel Method for Involving Women of Color at High Risk for Preterm Birth in Research Priority Setting

A Novel Method for Involving Women of Color at High Risk for Preterm Birth in Research Priority Setting

Published on: January 12, 2018

A controlled study on baby-friendly communities in Italy: methods and baseline data.

Anna Macaluso¹, Maria Enrica Bettinelli, Elise M Chapin

¹Health Services Research and International Health, Institute for Maternal and Child Health IRCCS Burlo Garofolo, Trieste, Italy.

Breastfeeding Medicine : the Official Journal of the Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine

|February 13, 2013

Summary

This study assessed the Baby Friendly Community Initiative (BFCI) impact on exclusive breastfeeding rates in Italy. Baseline data show high initiation but declining exclusive breastfeeding by 6 months, with the project ongoing to determine BFCI

More Related Videos

Assessment of the Efficacy of An Osteopathic Treatment in Infants with Biomechanical Impairments to Suckling

Assessment of the Efficacy of An Osteopathic Treatment in Infants with Biomechanical Impairments to Suckling

Published on: February 5, 2019

Measuring the Functional Abilities of Children Aged 3-6 Years Old with Observational Methods and Computer Tools

Measuring the Functional Abilities of Children Aged 3-6 Years Old with Observational Methods and Computer Tools

Published on: June 20, 2020

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 14, 2026

A Novel Method for Involving Women of Color at High Risk for Preterm Birth in Research Priority Setting

A Novel Method for Involving Women of Color at High Risk for Preterm Birth in Research Priority Setting

Published on: January 12, 2018

Assessment of the Efficacy of An Osteopathic Treatment in Infants with Biomechanical Impairments to Suckling

Assessment of the Efficacy of An Osteopathic Treatment in Infants with Biomechanical Impairments to Suckling

Published on: February 5, 2019

Measuring the Functional Abilities of Children Aged 3-6 Years Old with Observational Methods and Computer Tools

Measuring the Functional Abilities of Children Aged 3-6 Years Old with Observational Methods and Computer Tools

Published on: June 20, 2020

Area of Science:

Public Health
Maternal and Child Health
Nutrition

Background:

Exclusive breastfeeding is crucial for infant health and development.
The Baby Friendly Community Initiative (BFCI) aims to promote and protect breastfeeding.
Understanding the impact of BFCI interventions is essential for public health strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

To evaluate the effectiveness of the 7 Steps of the Baby Friendly Community Initiative (BFCI) on exclusive breastfeeding rates at 6 months in Italy.
To collect baseline data on breastfeeding practices within the study population.
To establish a framework for assessing the BFCI's impact through a controlled, nonrandomized study.

Main Methods:

A controlled, nonrandomized study design involving nine Local Health Authorities in early and nine in late intervention groups.
Data collection on infant feeding practices from birth to 12 months at baseline and after intervention implementation.
Step-down logistic regression analysis, accounting for cluster effects, to compare breastfeeding rates between intervention and control groups.

Main Results:

No significant baseline differences in breastfeeding rates at 3, 6, or 12 months between groups.
High breastfeeding initiation at birth (96%), with 72% exclusive breastfeeding (24-hour recall).
At 6 months, 62% of infants were breastfed, with only 10% exclusively (24-hour recall).

Conclusions:

The project is ongoing, and further analysis will estimate the BFCI's effect on exclusive breastfeeding.
Baseline data indicate a need for interventions to sustain exclusive breastfeeding beyond the early postpartum period.
The study design allows for robust evaluation of the BFCI's impact on breastfeeding duration and exclusivity.