The baby-friendly hospital initiative

A new global 'baby-friendly hospital initiative' has been launched by UNICEF and WHO. Its central elements are hospital practices that are known to protect, promote and support breast-feeding. The health benefits of breast-feeding have been shown to be more extensive than previously believed. The new initiative is needed because the 'code of marketing of breast-milk substitutes' alone has not had enough impact on infant-feeding practices. Also, contrary to expectations in most parts of the world, the health services have generally been unable to help mothers to breast-feed. The 'baby-friendly hospital initiative' employs four basic interventions that have been shown to be effective in increasing breast-feeding: counselling of the mother, early initiation of breast-feeding, rooming-in and the establishment of support groups for mothers. The main strategy for overcoming institutional constraints to breast-feeding is to train the maternity health care providers. Also, administrative procedures and public information campaigns may be needed.