Comparison of infant-feeding practices in two health subdistricts with different baby-friendly status in Mpumalanga province

Let’s work together to make breastfeeding work!

“…16 Persistent constraints to EBF for six months cited by mothers in the three featured articles, which correspond with the findings in the literature, [17][18][19][20][21] include lack of knowledge, the perceived insufficiency of breastmilk to satisfy an infant's needs, cultural practices and societal influences. [13][14][15] Healthcare workers are repeatedly cited as the most utilised and trusted source of infant and young child feeding (IYCF), 13,14 a finding that is also supported by previous literature. [22][23][24][25] A recent independent report, the Evaluation of nutrition interventions for children from conception to age 5 in South Africa, 26 assessed breastfeeding support to mothers as a key nutrition intervention strategy.…”

“…26 The findings from the articles on breastfeeding featured in this journal issue suggest that the implementation of the Mother Baby Friendly Initiative (MBFI), formerly known as the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative, could improve early breastfeeding initiation, as well as a longer EBF period. 13 The promotion of strong, community-based support networks through both governmental and non-governmental organisations were also found to improve breastfeeding practices. 14 More ingredients in the KwaZulu-Natal success story relate to good interdepartmental coordination and service linkage, partnerships with non-governmental organisations, a more appropriate budget for nutrition, and a clear vision and commitment to the implementation of nutrition action.…”

“…5 Persistently low EBF rates on the African continent are confirmed by three featured articles in this issue of the South African Journal of Clinical Nutrition. [13][14][15] In South Africa, the EBF rate for infants aged six months and younger is reported to be ~8%. 16 Persistent constraints to EBF for six months cited by mothers in the three featured articles, which correspond with the findings in the literature, [17][18][19][20][21] include lack of knowledge, the perceived insufficiency of breastmilk to satisfy an infant's needs, cultural practices and societal influences.…”

The Baby‐Friendly Hospital Initiative as an Intervention to Improve Breastfeeding Rates: A Review of the Literature

“…25 The majority of authors used a quasi-experimental design with a control group or a cohort design, 11,12,14,15,18,23,29,31 a time series design, 22,24,33 or a before-after or cross-sectional design. 13,16,17,[19][20][21][26][27][28]30,32,34,35 Setting Seven studies among the 25 were conducted in the United States, 13,20,23,26,29,33,35 with the remaining 18 conducted in a variety of nations worldwide, including Bangladesh, 12 the United Kingdom, 14,17 Croatia, 15 Brazil, 16,19,31,32 Australia, 18,34 Turkey, 21 Spain, 22 Sweden, 24 Belarus, 25 Switzerland, 27 Czech Republic, 28 South Afri...…”

“…12,19,25,27,31 Three studies found no difference in longterm exclusivity rates between women giving birth at a BFHI institution and those giving birth elsewhere 11,18,21 and 2 studies offered ambiguous results that inhibited interpretation. 30,32 Kramer et al had the strongest results documenting the influence of the BFHI on long-term exclusive breastfeeding rates. 25 This cluster randomized controlled study found statistically significant increases in 3-and 6-month exclusive breastfeeding rates among women who gave birth in BFHI institutions in Belarus.…”