The Effect of Baby Friendly Neonatal Intensive Care Initiative on Exclusive Breastfeeding Rates following Discharge in Very Preterm Infants.

AIM: We aimed to investigate the effect of "Baby Friendly NICU" practice on exclusive breastfeeding rates following discharge in very preterm infants.

BACKGROUND

The Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI) is a global program launched by the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF.

METHODS

The feeding technique, type of nutrition (breastfeeding, formula, mixed) and anthropometric measurements of the very preterm infants (≤32 gestational weeks) were recorded for every month following discharge up to corrected 6 months of age. Exclusive breastfeeding rates were compared between 2 periods before "Baby Friendly NICU" practice (group 1) and after (group 2).

RESULTS

Data of 252 infants, 135 in group 1 and 117 in group 2 were analyzed. Exclusive formula feeding rates decreased by 6 months age in group 2 (46 vs. 32%, P = .02); however, exclusively breastfeeding rates did not changed significantly (20% vs. 29%, P = .14).

CONCLUSION

Baby friendly NICU practices significantly decreased formula feeding rates at 6 months; however, it did not have an effect on exclusive breastfeeding rates at any time point during follow-up probably due to small sample size.