Impact of baby friendly hospital initiative on breastfeeding rates in Đakovo

First implementation of the WHO/UNICEF Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI) in Đakovo during 1996 significantly increased breastfeeding rates. Objective is to evaluate the effects of BFHI on breastfeeding rates in infants born in 2004 (before second BFHI) and 2008 (after second BFHI). Retrospective analysis included 356 mother-infant dyads. Breastfeeding rates at 1, 3, and 6 months were collected for 182 term infants born in 2004 and 174 term infants born in 2008. From 2004 to 2008, the rate of breastfeeding at 1, 3 and 6 months of age increased from 63.7% to 90.8%, from 40.1% to 61.5% and from 20.3% to 39.1%, respectively (P<0.001 all). On multivariate logistic regression, BFHI increased the likelihood of breastfeeding at 6 months 2.8 times. BFHI proved effective in changing breastfeeding rates at 1, 3 and 6 months in Đakovo.

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