Birth and newborn care policies and practices limit breastfeeding at maternity facilities in Vietnam.

The prevalence of early and exclusive breastfeeding in Vietnam remains sub-optimal. The objective of this study was to determine factors associated with early initiation of breastfeeding (EIBF) and exclusive breastfeeding for the first 3 days after birth (EBF3D). We conducted a population-based, cross-sectional survey of 726 mothers with children aged 0-11 months in two provinces and one municipality from May to July 2020. Multinomial logistic regression was used to examine factors associated with EIBF and EBF3D. The prevalence of EIBF was 39.7% and EBF3D 18.0%. The EIBF prevalence is positively associated with immediate and uninterrupted skin-to-skin contact (SSC) for 10-29 min (aOR: 2.55; 95% CI: 1.49, 4.37), 30-59 min (aOR: 4.15; 95% CI: 2.08, 8.27), 60-80 min (aOR: 4.35; 95% CI: 1.50, 12.6), or ≥90 min (aOR: 5.87; 95% CI: 3.14, 10.98). EIBF was negatively associated with cesarean birth (aOR: 0.24; 95% CI: 0.11, 0.51), bringing infant formula to the birth facility (aOR: 0.49; 95% CI: 0.30, 0.78), purchased it after arrival (aOR: 0.37; 95% CI: 0.24, 0.60), or did both (aOR: 0.43; 95% CI: 0.21, 0.89). EBF3D was negatively associated with cesarean section birth (aOR: 0.15; 95% CI: 0.06, 0.39), vaginal birth with episiotomy (aOR: 0.40; 95% CI: 0.18, 0.88), bringing formula to the maternity facility (aOR: 0.03; 95% CI: 0.01, 0.07), purchased it after arrival (aOR: 0.02; 95% CI: 0.01, 0.06) or did both (aOR: 0.04; 95% CI: 0.02, 0.10). Receiving counseling from any source was not significantly associated with early breastfeeding practices. Policy and health service delivery interventions should be directed at eliminating infant formula from birthing environments, reducing unnecessary cesarean sections and episiotomies, providing immediate and uninterrupted SSC for all births, and improving breastfeeding counseling and support.

Atenção ao parto e nascimento em Maternidades da Rede Cegonha/Brasil: avaliação do grau de implantação das ações / Labor and childbirth care in maternities participating in the "Rede Cegonha/Brazil": an evaluation of the degree of implementation of the activities

Resumo O artigo analisa o grau de implantação das Boas Práticas de Atenção ao Parto e Nascimento conforme preconizado pela Rede Cegonha (RC) a partir da configuração de uma matriz de julgamento para o Brasil e grandes regiões. Foram elegíveis para a avaliação todos os 606 hospitais públicos e mistos das regiões de saúde que dispunham de plano de ação da RC em 2015. Foram utilizados três diferentes métodos de coleta de dados: entrevista pessoal com gestores, profissionais de saúde e puérperas; análise documental; e observação in loco. A matriz foi composta com as cinco diretrizes da RC. Para julgamento da adequação da implantação, foi utilizado como parâmetro: adequado; parcialmente adequado e não adequado. Todas as diretrizes foram avaliadas como parcialmente adequada, exceto a ambiência que foi não adequado. A atenção ao parto e nascimento encontra-se em estágios diferenciados de implantação com variações entre as grandes regiões. As regiões Sul e Sudeste, apresentaram situação privilegiada quanto ao grau de implantação da maioria dos itens analisados. Os resultados evidenciam que a avaliação das ações da RC deve fazer parte do alicerce de informações empregadas no direcionamento de políticas e regulamentação na atenção hospitalar ao parto e nascimento.

Abstract Using a judgment framework, this article analyzes the degree of implementation of the best practices in labor and childbirth care contained in the guidelines of the Rede Cegonha (RC) across Brazil. The study eligibility criteria were public and mixed hospitals located in a health region with a RC action plan in place in 2015, resulting in a total of 606 facilities distributed across the country. Three different data collection methods were used: face-to-face interviews with managers, health professionals and puerperal women; document analysis; and on-site observation. The framework was built around the five guidelines of the Labor and Childbirth component of the RC. Degree of implantation was rated as follows: adequate; partially adequate and inadequate. The performance of maternity facilities was rated as partially adequate for all guidelines except for hospital environment, which was rated as inadequate. A huge variation in degree of implementation was observed across regions, with the South and Southeast being the best-performing regions in most items. The results reinforce the need for an ongoing evaluation of the actions developed by the RC to inform policy-making and the regulation of labor and childbirth care.

Perspectives about the baby friendly hospital/health initiative in Australia: an online survey.

BACKGROUND: Evidence supports the health and economic benefits of breastfeeding, and the positive impact of the Baby Friendly Health Initiative (BFHI) on increasing breastfeeding rates and improving breastfeeding outcomes. The BFHI is a World Health Organization and United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund initiative to promote, support and maintain breastfeeding. The BFHI was updated in 2018 and includes the Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding (the Ten Steps 2018) and the International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes (the WHO Code). Despite policy and guideline support for breastfeeding and the BFHI, there are currently only 70 accredited hospitals, healthcare centres and regional clusters in Australia, accounting for 23% of maternity facilities. This research aimed to explore health professionals and other stakeholders' perspectives on the uptake and implementation of the BFHI in Australia from an organisational change perspective. METHODS: An online survey administered via relevant Australian-based professional associations was fully or partially completed by 332 participants who support mothers and newborns in their roles. Descriptive statistics and content analysis were used to analyse quantitative and qualitative data. RESULTS: The majority of participants supported legislating the WHO Code, closely monitoring BFHI compliance, ensuring sufficient knowledge about breastfeeding and the BFHI among staff, improving care within maternity facilities, continuous support of mothers' post-discharge, and improving social media support of breastfeeding. It was also perceived that an interdisciplinary team approach and multidisciplinary involvement were important requirements for successfully implementing the BFHI. There was no consensus among participants that Australian health policies support breastfeeding and the implementation of the BFHI. CONCLUSIONS: This study emphasised the significance of legislation around the Code, executive and leadership support and culture, and providing adequate resources concerning uptake and implementation of the BFHI. Considering that uptake of the BFHI has been limited and no formal government support has been provided to further develop the BFHI and support the Code in Australia, findings of this research may help with potential future actions to facilitate the BFHI uptake and Code implementation.

The uptake and implementation of the Baby Friendly Health Initiative in Australia.

PROBLEM: Despite evidence that implementation of the Initiative has been effective in increasing breastfeeding rates and duration of breastfeeding worldwide; the uptake is low with only 70 Baby Friendly accredited maternity facilities across Australia (approximately 23% of facilities). BACKGROUND: The Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding and International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes shaped the foundation for the Initiative to implement practices that protect, promote and support breastfeeding. There is evidence that implementation of the Initiative is impacted by individual and organisational culture, organisational support, and education. Organisational change is also identified as playing an important role in the successful implementation of the Initiative. Despite policy and guideline support for the Initiative at national and state levels in Australia the uptake of the Initiative is low. AIM: The aim of this research was to explore health practitioners' perspectives about the uptake and implementation of the Initiative in Australia. METHODS: Semi-structured, face-to-face, telephone and Skype interviews were conducted with 12 health practitioners. Thematic analysis was used to analyse data. RESULTS: Participants identified that the uptake and implementation of the Initiative in Australia is complex. This complexity was related to six themes: (1) policy and guideline support for the Initiative, (2) leadership support to implement the Initiative, (3) improving breastfeeding and Initiative-related knowledge, (4) improving communication between stakeholders regarding the Initiative, (5) accreditation and reaccreditation processes, and (6) implementation complexity. CONCLUSION: Using organisational change theories as a guide to implementation of the Initiative may be useful for facilities intending to become accredited.

Fatores associados à ausência de aleitamento materno na alta hospitalar em uma maternidade pública de Maceió, Alagoas, Brasil / Factors associated with the lack of breastfeeding upon discharge from hospital in a public maternity facility in Maceió, Alagoas, Brazil

Resumo O objetivo deste artigo é avaliar a prevalência e os fatores associados à ausência de aleitamento materno na alta hospitalar em uma maternidade pública de Maceió, Alagoas, Brasil. Estudo transversal realizado com puérperas sob alta hospitalar assistidas na maternidade do hospital universitário da capital. Foram calculadas razões de prevalência (RP) e respectivos intervalos de confiança de 95% (IC95%) por regressão de Poisson com emprego de modelo hierarquizado. Aproximadamente 20% das puérperas não estavam amamentando. Hábito tabagista na gravidez [RP = 5,20; (IC95% = 1,75-15,33); p = 0,003]; intercorrências na gestação [RP = 3,50; (IC95% = 1,04-11,77); p = 0,042] e falta de informações sobre aleitamento materno no pré-natal [RP = 5,44; (IC95% = 1,78-16,67); p = 0,003] foram fatores desfavoráveis à amamentação. A prática de aleitamento materno dentro da maternidade está aquém do ideal. Evidencia-se a importância do pré-natal, visando fornecer orientações quanto à prevenção do tabagismo na gestação e aconselhamento sobre aleitamento materno, com atenção especial àquelas puérperas que tiveram intercorrências na gestação.

Abstract This article sets out to evaluate the prevalence and associated factors with the lack of breastfeeding upon discharge from hospital in a public maternity facility in Maceio, Alagoas, Brazil. It involved a cross-sectional study performed with women who had recently given birth at the moment of discharge from the maternity ward of a university hospital in the capital. Prevalence ratios (PR) and confidence intervals of 95% (CI95%) were calculated by Poisson regression with the use of a hierarchical model. Approximately 20% of mothers did not breastfeed. Smoking during pregnancy [PR = 5.20; (CI95% =1.75 to 15.33), p = 0.003]; complications during pregnancy [PR =3.50; (CI95% =1.04 to 11.77), p = 0.042] and insufficient information about breastfeeding during prenatal care [PR = 5.44; (CI95% 1.78 to 16.67); p = 0.003] were the major negative factors associated with the lack of breastfeeding. Breastfeeding in the maternity ward was lower than ideal. Guidelines on smoking prevention and encouragement of breastfeeding must be highlighted during prenatal care, especially for women with complications during pregnancy.