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

N Bengü Karaçağlar; Gülsüm Kadıoğlu Şimşek; Fuat Emre Canpolat; Sarkhan Elbayiyev; H Gözde Kanmaz Kutman

doi:10.1097/JPN.0000000000000851

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

J Perinat Neonatal Nurs. 2024 Sep 24. doi: 10.1097/JPN.0000000000000851. Online ahead of print.

Authors

N Bengü Karaçağlar¹, Gülsüm Kadıoğlu Şimşek, Fuat Emre Canpolat, Sarkhan Elbayiyev, H Gözde Kanmaz Kutman

Affiliation

¹ Author Affiliations: Department of Neonatology, NICU, Ankara City Hospital, Bilkent, Ankara, Turkey (Drs Karaçağlar, Kadıoğlu Şimşek, Canpolat, Elbayiyev and Kanmaz Kutman); and Azerbaijan Medical University, Educational-Surgery Clinic, Baku, Azerbaijan (Dr Elbayiyev).

PMID: 39325988
DOI: 10.1097/JPN.0000000000000851

Abstract

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.