Perceived barriers and facilitators to breast-feeding support practices in hospitals and birthing facilities in the USA
Abstract Objective: The Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI) designation is known to increase breast-feeding rates in the USA. However, less is known about barriers and facilitators to breast-feeding support practices in BFHI hospitals and how they differ from non-BFHI hospitals. We examined w...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Cambridge University Press
2025-01-01
|
| Series: | Public Health Nutrition |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S1368980024002635/type/journal_article |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1832542979197239296 |
|---|---|
| author | Bee-Ah Kang Sarah Gonzalez-Nahm Sara E Benjamin-Neelon |
| author_facet | Bee-Ah Kang Sarah Gonzalez-Nahm Sara E Benjamin-Neelon |
| author_sort | Bee-Ah Kang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description |
Abstract
Objective:
The Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI) designation is known to increase breast-feeding rates in the USA. However, less is known about barriers and facilitators to breast-feeding support practices in BFHI hospitals and how they differ from non-BFHI hospitals. We examined what barriers and facilitators are perceived to affect breast-feeding practices among BFHI and non-BFHI hospital administrators and further explored factors that presented challenges to the adoption and continuation of breast-feeding support practices.
Design:
Cross-sectional study was conducted. We measured whether hospitals were implementing 12 breast-feeding support practices and identified barriers and facilitators to the practices. The survey questionnaire included both structured and open-ended questions.
Setting:
This study included hospital administrators from both BFHI and non-BFHI hospitals from all regions of the USA to help elucidate potential differences.
Participants:
A stratified random sample of 50 % of BFHI and 50 % of non-BFHI hospitals was obtained. The final sample size included 113 BFHI and 177 non-BFHI hospital administrators.
Results:
Low interest among mothers was reported as the most significant barrier to providing breast-feeding support among all administrators. Non-BFHI hospital administrators were more likely to report cost, nursing staff and physician resistance and hospital infrastructure as barriers to initiating practices. In-person training was cited as the most important facilitator among both groups.
Conclusions:
Strengthening prenatal education for mothers and trainings for administrative and nursing staff and physicians is warranted in BFHI and non-BFHI hospitals. Staff management and hospital infrastructure need to be improved particularly in non-BFHI hospitals to provide adequate breast-feeding support for mothers.
|
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-cc99c29183e943398aa5bf8a201592f9 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1368-9800 1475-2727 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | Cambridge University Press |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Public Health Nutrition |
| spelling | doaj-art-cc99c29183e943398aa5bf8a201592f92025-02-03T12:04:13ZengCambridge University PressPublic Health Nutrition1368-98001475-27272025-01-012810.1017/S1368980024002635Perceived barriers and facilitators to breast-feeding support practices in hospitals and birthing facilities in the USABee-Ah Kang0https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1124-2481Sarah Gonzalez-Nahm1Sara E Benjamin-Neelon2https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4643-2397Department of Health, Behavior and Society, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD 21205, United StatesDepartment of Nutrition, School of Public Health and Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003, United StatesDepartment of Health, Behavior and Society, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD 21205, United States Abstract Objective: The Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI) designation is known to increase breast-feeding rates in the USA. However, less is known about barriers and facilitators to breast-feeding support practices in BFHI hospitals and how they differ from non-BFHI hospitals. We examined what barriers and facilitators are perceived to affect breast-feeding practices among BFHI and non-BFHI hospital administrators and further explored factors that presented challenges to the adoption and continuation of breast-feeding support practices. Design: Cross-sectional study was conducted. We measured whether hospitals were implementing 12 breast-feeding support practices and identified barriers and facilitators to the practices. The survey questionnaire included both structured and open-ended questions. Setting: This study included hospital administrators from both BFHI and non-BFHI hospitals from all regions of the USA to help elucidate potential differences. Participants: A stratified random sample of 50 % of BFHI and 50 % of non-BFHI hospitals was obtained. The final sample size included 113 BFHI and 177 non-BFHI hospital administrators. Results: Low interest among mothers was reported as the most significant barrier to providing breast-feeding support among all administrators. Non-BFHI hospital administrators were more likely to report cost, nursing staff and physician resistance and hospital infrastructure as barriers to initiating practices. In-person training was cited as the most important facilitator among both groups. Conclusions: Strengthening prenatal education for mothers and trainings for administrative and nursing staff and physicians is warranted in BFHI and non-BFHI hospitals. Staff management and hospital infrastructure need to be improved particularly in non-BFHI hospitals to provide adequate breast-feeding support for mothers. https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S1368980024002635/type/journal_articleHuman milkBaby Friendly Hospital InitiativeInfant feedingHospital administratorBreastmilk |
| spellingShingle | Bee-Ah Kang Sarah Gonzalez-Nahm Sara E Benjamin-Neelon Perceived barriers and facilitators to breast-feeding support practices in hospitals and birthing facilities in the USA Public Health Nutrition Human milk Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative Infant feeding Hospital administrator Breastmilk |
| title | Perceived barriers and facilitators to breast-feeding support practices in hospitals and birthing facilities in the USA |
| title_full | Perceived barriers and facilitators to breast-feeding support practices in hospitals and birthing facilities in the USA |
| title_fullStr | Perceived barriers and facilitators to breast-feeding support practices in hospitals and birthing facilities in the USA |
| title_full_unstemmed | Perceived barriers and facilitators to breast-feeding support practices in hospitals and birthing facilities in the USA |
| title_short | Perceived barriers and facilitators to breast-feeding support practices in hospitals and birthing facilities in the USA |
| title_sort | perceived barriers and facilitators to breast feeding support practices in hospitals and birthing facilities in the usa |
| topic | Human milk Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative Infant feeding Hospital administrator Breastmilk |
| url | https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S1368980024002635/type/journal_article |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT beeahkang perceivedbarriersandfacilitatorstobreastfeedingsupportpracticesinhospitalsandbirthingfacilitiesintheusa AT sarahgonzaleznahm perceivedbarriersandfacilitatorstobreastfeedingsupportpracticesinhospitalsandbirthingfacilitiesintheusa AT saraebenjaminneelon perceivedbarriersandfacilitatorstobreastfeedingsupportpracticesinhospitalsandbirthingfacilitiesintheusa |