Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative and exclusive breastfeeding during hospital stay

ABSTRACT OBJECTIVE To estimate the prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding during maternity hospital stay (outcome) and to analyze the association between delivery in a Baby-Friendly Hospital (BFH) and the outcome. The hypothesis is that accreditation to this program improves exclusive breastfeeding during maternity hospital stay. Exclusive breastfeeding is essential in reducing neonatal morbidity and mortality. METHODS This study is based on secondary data collected by the "Birth in Brazil: National Survey into Labour and Birth", a population-based study, conducted with 21,086 postpartum women, from February 1, 2011, to October 31, 2012, in 266 hospitals from all five Brazilian regions. Face-to-face interviews were conducted mostly within the first 24 hours after birth, regarding individual and gestational characteristics, prenatal care, delivery, newborn's characteristics, and breastfeeding at birth. A theoretical model was created, allocating the exposure variables in three levels based on their proximity to the outcome. This hierarchical conceptual model was applied to perform a multiple logistic regression (with 95%CI and p < 0.05). RESULTS In this study, 76.0% of the babies were exclusively breastfed from birth until the interview. Babies born in public (AOR = 1.73; 95%CI: 1.10-2.87), mixed (AOR = 2.48; 95%CI: 1.35-4.53) and private (AOR = 5.54; 95%CI: 2.38-12.45) BFHs were more likely to be exclusively breastfed during maternity hospital stay than those born in non-BFHs, as well as those born by vaginal birth (AOR = 2.16; 95%CI: 1.79-2.61), with adolescent mothers (AOR = 1.83; 95%CI: 1.47-2.26) or adults up to 34 years old (AOR =1 .31; 95%CI: 1.13-1.52), primiparous women (AOR = 1.51; 95%CI: 1.34-1.70), and mothers living in the Northern region of Brazil (AOR = 1.99; 95%CI: 1.14-3.49). CONCLUSIONS The Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative promotes exclusive breastfeeding during hospital stay regarding individual and hospital differences.

Fatores associados ao aleitamento cruzado / Factors associated with cross-nursing

Resumo O objetivo deste artigo foi estimar a prevalência e analisar os fatores associados ao aleitamento cruzado. Estudo transversal conduzido em 2013 mediante entrevista com amostra representativa de mães de crianças < 1 ano (n = 695) em nove unidades básicas do Rio de Janeiro/RJ. Foram estudadas características sociodemográficas, da assistência à gravidez, ao parto e na atenção básica, hábitos maternos e características do bebê. Razões de prevalência ajustadas foram obtidas por regressão de Poisson, sendo mantidas no modelo final as variáveis que se associaram ao desfecho (p ≤ 0,05). O aleitamento cruzado foi praticado por 29,4% das mães, geralmente entre parentes ou amigas. Mostraram-se diretamente associadas à prática: ser mãe adolescente (RP = 1,595), tabagismo (RP = 1,396), consumo de bebida alcoólica (RP = 1,613), regime inadequado de alimentação do bebê (RP = 1,371) e a idade do bebê em meses (RP = 1,066). O trabalho materno formal mostrou-se inversamente associado ao aleitamento cruzado (RP = 0,579). O aleitamento cruzado tem prevalência relevante entre mães assistidas por unidades primárias de saúde. Esse tema deve ser mais abordado, especialmente entre os grupos mais vulneráveis, devido à associação com a adolescência e com hábitos inadequados de saúde.

Abstract This article aims to estimate the prevalence and analyze the factors associated with cross-nursing. A cross-sectional study was conducted in 2013 with interviews with a representative sample of mothers of infants less than one-year-old (n’ = 695) attended in nine primary health units in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Sociodemographic characteristics were studied; pregnancy, childbirth and primary care assistance; maternal habits and baby features. Adjusted prevalence ratios (PR) were obtained by Poisson Regression, retaining variables associated with the outcome in the final model (p ≤ 0.05). Cross-nursing was practiced by 29.4% of the mothers. Most practitioner mothers were relatives or friends. The following variables were directly associated with cross-nursing: being an adolescent mother (PR’ = 1.595), smoking (PR’ = 1.396), alcohol consumption (PR’ = 1.613), inappropriate baby feeding habits (PR’ = 1.371) and infant’s age in months (PR’ = 1.066). Maternal formal employment was inversely associated with the practice (PR’ = 0.579). Cross-nursing has a relevant prevalence among mothers assisted by primary health care units in Rio de Janeiro City. This issue should be addressed, especially among the most vulnerable groups, due to the association with adolescence and with unhealthy habits.