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An Examination of Maternity Staff Attitudes Towards Implementing Baby Friendly Health Initiative (BFHI) Accreditation in Australia

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Abstract

Background The Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI) influences health care practices and increases the initiation and duration of exclusive breastfeeding. Consistent definitions enable the accurate monitoring of breastfeeding rates and behaviour. This information refines policy and helps reach national breastfeeding targets. Only 21% (66/317) of Australian hospitals are BFHI accredited. Objective To examine the factors perceived to promote or hinder BFHI accreditation. Method Focus group interviews explored opinions of 31 participants, in differing roles and levels of employment, across midwifery, medical, nursing and ancillary staff at six South Australian maternity hospitals. Results The results suggest that staffs’ understanding and personal views are often discordant with BFHI aims. Perceived difficulties include the accreditation process, hospital dynamics, and the Ten Steps implementation plus a bottle feeding culture and maternal employment that impact upon continued breastfeeding. Conclusions Upper management support, specific funding, a dedicated co-ordinator with “area leaders”, development of a specific breastfeeding policy incorporating various disciplines and staff, containing detailed protocols that comply with the International Code of Marketing of Breast Milk Substitutes and subsequent World Health Assembly (WHA) resolutions, are all required. Staff and mothers require multiple modes of education to understand the BFHI, including sponsorship for training of lactation consultants. Full implementation of BFHI across Australia will assist the development of nationally accepted breastfeeding definitions, improve monitoring and evaluation of rates and practices, and improve breastfeeding outcomes.

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Acknowledgments

The authors wish to thank the participants for their contributions.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Nursing & Midwifery, University of South Australia, North Terrace, SA, 5000, Australia

    Ava Deborah Walsh & Jan Pincombe

  2. Discipline of Nursing, School of Population Health and Clinical Practice, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, 5005, Australia

    Ann Henderson

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Correspondence to Ava Deborah Walsh.

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Walsh, A.D., Pincombe, J. & Henderson, A. An Examination of Maternity Staff Attitudes Towards Implementing Baby Friendly Health Initiative (BFHI) Accreditation in Australia. Matern Child Health J 15, 597–609 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10995-010-0628-1

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