Are infants born in baby-friendly hospitals being exclusively breastfed until 6 months of age?

Abstract

Background/Objectives: To objectively measure rates of breast-feeding to infants born in a baby-friendly hospital in Bangalore, India, and to capture home-based compliance to exclusive breastfeeding (EBF). Subjects/Methods: Breast-milk (BM) and non-breast-milk (NBM) water intake were assessed in 50 mother-infant pairs using a deuterium dilution technique at months 1, 3 and 6. Results: Complementary feeding (CF) was introduced as early as 1 month among 44% of the infants, and only 14.2% remained as exclusively breastfed by month 6. Intake of BM significantly declined from 166 to 87 ml/kg/day and NBM significantly increased from 23 to 51 ml/kg/day from month 1-6 (Po0.01). There was a significant negative correlation between BM and NBM at months 3 (r ¼ À0.59, Po0.001) and 6 (r ¼ À0.61, Po0.001). The most common barrier to EBF was 'a persistently crying infant'. BM intake significantly correlated with weight for age (WAZ; month 1: r ¼ 0.56, Po0.001; month 3: r ¼ 0.60, Po0.001) and weight for height (WHZ; month 1: r ¼ 0.59, Po0.001; month 3: r ¼ 0.57, Po0.001). NBM intake showed a significant negative correlation with WHZ (r ¼ À0.33, P ¼ 0.02) at month 3 and correlated positively with WAZ (r ¼ 0.37, P ¼ 0.01) and height for age (r ¼ 0.30, P ¼ 0.03) at month 6.

Facilitators and Barriers to Exclusive Breastfeeding in Thailand: A Narrative Review

“…These finding are corroborated by studies in other countries [132,133]. In India, persistent crying in infants was found to be a barrier to EBF and, in Iran, low birth weight was reported to lead to a low rate of breastfeeding [132,133].…”

Baby-friendly hospitals: only the better, but not the best

“…1,2 We are in agreement with the author's viewpoint that the lack of commitment to implement the 10 steps of the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative, and specifically those that require staff skills and time may be the key reason why early complementary feeding is observed even in baby-friendly hospitals (BFH) and that these deserve special mention. Our study, which objectively assessed the compliance to exclusive breastfeeding (EBF), drew the same conclusion, and objectively showed that even BFH may not necessarily have improved rates of EBF.…”

Baby-friendly hospitals: only the better, but not the best

“…We read with great interest the article by Samuel et al 1 The authors found that in spite of being delivered in a baby-friendly hospital (BFH) early complementary feeding (CF) was observed at home. Based on their findings, they suggested home-and communityoriented approaches to improve exclusive breast feeding rates.…”