Breastfeeding practices in an Australian tertiary care hospital: A retrospective study
Vidanka Vasilevski1, Tara Arnold2, Kathleen Halliday2
1Deakin University, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Victoria, Australia; Centre for Quality and Patient Safety Research, Western Health Partnership, Victoria, Australia; Western Health, Victoria, Australia.
Insights
Exclusive breastfeeding rates at discharge were 69% in 2019. Factors like maternal origin and birth type significantly impacted exclusive breastfeeding, highlighting areas for Baby Friendly Health Initiative (BFHI) interventions.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Neonatal Care
- Maternal Health
Background:
- The World Health Organization recommends exclusive breastfeeding for infants up to six months.
- The Baby Friendly Health Initiative (BFHI) aims to protect, promote, and support breastfeeding globally.
- BFHI criteria guide hospital practices to enhance infant feeding and reduce disparities.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze 2019 data to identify predictors of exclusive breastfeeding versus non-exclusive breastfeeding at hospital discharge.
- To pinpoint areas for intervention aligned with BFHI guidelines.
Main Methods:
- A retrospective review of 5836 neonates born in 2019 at an Australian tertiary hospital.
- Descriptive statistics were used to report exclusive breastfeeding rates.
- Univariate and logistic regression analyses identified factors associated with breastfeeding outcomes.
Main Results:
- Overall, 69% of neonates were exclusively breastfed at discharge; this increased to 75% when excluding Newborn Services admissions, meeting the BFHI benchmark.
- Maternal country of birth (Vietnam, Sudan, Samoa, Philippines), main language (Other), birth type (cesarean/assisted vaginal), first-feed type (mixed/formula), and Newborn Services admission were significant predictors reducing exclusive breastfeeding.
Conclusions:
- Monitoring breastfeeding outcomes is crucial for quality assurance in healthcare.
- Identifying mothers who start breastfeeding but do not exclusively breastfeed at discharge is key to targeted interventions.
- Interventions can help achieve BFHI targets and reduce breastfeeding disparities.
Background:
The World Health Organization recommend that infants be exclusively breastfed until six months of age. The Baby Friendly Health Initiative (BFHI) was developed for protecting, promoting, and supporting breastfeeding. The BFHI global criteria guides hospital practice for supporting infant feeding and reducing disparities in breastfeeding outcomes.
Aim:
The aim of this study was to analyse 2019 data to identify factors that predict exclusive breastfeeding vs non-exclusive breastfeeding on discharge to determine areas for intervention in relation to BFHI guidelines.
Material And Methods:
A retrospective chart review of 5836 neonates born at an Australian tertiary hospital in 2019 was conducted. Descriptive statistics were used to report exclusive breastfeeding rates. Univariate and logistic regression analyses were conducted to determine factors associated with exclusive breastfeeding and non-exclusive breastfeeding on discharge.
Results:
A total of 69% of neonates were exclusively breastfed on discharge in 2019. When excluding admissions to Newborn Services, 75% of neonates were exclusively breastfed on discharge, achieving the BFHI benchmark. Predictors which significantly reduced the odds of exclusive breastfeeding on discharge were maternal country of birth (Vietnam, p < 0.001, Sudan p < 0.001, Samoa p < 0.01, Philippines p < 0.05), main language (Other, p < 0.05), birth type (caesarean or assisted vaginal birth p < 0.001), first-feed type (mixed feeding or formula p < 0.001), and Newborn Services admission (p < 0.001).
Conclusions:
Examining breastfeeding outcomes is an important quality assurance process for health services. Understanding groups of mothers who commence breastfeeding but do not exclusively breastfeed upon discharge enables identification of areas for intervention to achieve BFHI targets and reduce breastfeeding disparities.
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