Impact of the Baby‐friendly Hospital Initiative on breastfeeding and child health outcomes: a systematic review

The Baby‐friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI) is a key component of the World Health Organization/United Nations Children's Fund Global Strategy for Infant and Young Child Feeding. The primary aim of this narrative systematic review was to examine the impact of BFHI implementation on breastfeeding and child health outcomes worldwide and in the United States. Experimental, quasi‐experimental and observational studies were considered eligible for this review if they assessed breastfeeding outcomes and/or infant health outcomes for healthy, term infants born in a hospital or birthing center with full or partial implementation of BFHI steps. Of the 58 reports included in the systematic review, nine of them were published based on three randomized controlled trials, 19 followed quasi‐experimental designs, 11 were prospective and 19 were cross‐sectional or retrospective. Studies were conducted in 19 different countries located in South America, North America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, South Asia, Eurasia and Sub‐Saharan Africa. Adherence to the BFHI Ten Steps has a positive impact on short‐term, medium‐term and long‐term breastfeeding (BF) outcomes. There is a dose–response relationship between the number of BFHI steps women are exposed to and the likelihood of improved BF outcomes (early BF initiation, exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) at hospital discharge, any BF and EBF duration). Community support (step 10) appears to be essential for sustaining breastfeeding impacts of BFHI in the longer term.     

Baby‐friendly hospital practices are associated with duration of full breastfeeding in primiparous but not multiparous Iranian women

There is evidence that the Baby‐Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI) results in improved breastfeeding outcomes in Western countries, but little is known of its impact in Middle‐Eastern countries. This study investigated the impact of BFHI practices on duration of full breastfeeding in a cohort of 700 Iranian mothers recruited between June 2014 and March 2015 from maternity hospitals in Shiraz and followed‐up prospectively for 6 months. At baseline, mothers self‐reported exposure to 7 of the BFHI Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding (Steps 3 to 9). Data on breastfeeding outcomes were collected at baseline, 1, 3, 4, and 6 months postpartum. Cox regression analysis was conducted to determine the impact of individual and cumulative BFHI Steps on the duration of full breastfeeding, defined as the number of weeks since discharge that an infant received only breast milk and no complementary formula or food. Mothers reported experiencing on average 3.9 (SD 1.13, range 1 to 7) Steps, and only 28% of infants were fully breastfed at 6 months. There was a protective inverse relationship for primiparous (p for trend = .022) but not multiparous mothers (p for trend = .069), between the number of Steps a woman was exposed to and the likelihood of her discontinuing full breastfeeding within 6 months postpartum. Greater exposure to BFHI practices potentially could increase primiparous mothers' chances of fully breastfeeding to 6 months. Continual monitoring of the BFHI Steps and repeated education of healthcare staff are required to ensure that Iranian mothers receive adequate breastfeeding support.     

The effect of Baby‐friendly status on exclusive breastfeeding in U.S. hospitals

In 2014, a leading hospital accreditation agency, mandated hospitals publicly report their exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) rates. This new regulation provided an opportunity to explore differences in EBF outcomes using a standardized definition across a large hospital sample in the United States. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships between population demographics and the Baby‐friendly (BF) hospital designation on EBF rates in hospitals throughout the United States. We obtained EBF rates from 121 BF hospitals and 1,608 hospitals without the BF designation. Demographic variables were computed using census tract data for the population surrounding each hospital. Relationships were explored using linear regression. We found that EBF rates were positively correlated with a bachelor's degree, log income, and those who identified as White or Asian and negatively correlated with those without college attendance, individuals living below the poverty line, and those who identified as African American or Hispanic. For all models, the BF designation of a hospital was associated with higher EBF rates (p < 0.01; effect sizes, 0.11–0.49) with the exception of the model containing log income. Using a multiple linear regression model that was allowed to contain more than one independent variable, we were able to explain 22% of the variability in EBF rates. The BF hospital designation was associated with significantly higher EBF rates independent of demographic variables. Support for hospitals to attain the BF hospital designation is a meaningful public health goal.     

Baby‐Friendly Hospital designation has a sustained impact on continued breastfeeding

The Baby‐Friendly Hospital (BFH) Initiative has led to an increase in breastfeeding rates and duration worldwide. But little is known about whether the beneficial effects persist beyond a facility's designation as a BFH. To investigate the association of BFH designation (current, former, and never) and compliance with Baby‐Friendly (BF) practices on breastfeeding in Switzerland, this study combined nationwide survey data on breastfeeding with BFH monitoring data. In this cross‐sectional study, 1,326 children were born in 34 current (N = 508), 28 former (N = 425), and 34 never designated BFHs (N = 393). We compared exclusive and any breastfeeding according to BFH designation over the first year of life, using Kaplan‐Meyer Survival curves. Logistic regression models were applied to analyse breastfeeding prevalence, and Cox‐regression models were used for exclusive (0–6 months) and continued (6–12 months) breastfeeding duration. Average duration of exclusive breastfeeding (13.1 weeks, 95% confidence interval [12.0, 17.4]) and any breastfeeding (32.7 weeks, 95% confidence interval [30.5, 39.2]) were the longest for babies born in currently accredited BFHs. Exclusive breastfeeding was associated with high compliance with monitored BF practices in current BFHs and with the number of BF practices experienced in all hospitals. Continued breastfeeding was significantly longer when babies were born in current BFHs (cessation hazard ratio 0.60, 95% confidence interval [0.42, 0.84]) or in former BFHs (cessation hazard ratio 0.68, 95% confidence interval [0.48, 0.97]). Overall, the results support continued investment into BFHs, because babies born in current BFHs are breastfed the most and the longest, whereas a former BFH designation shows a sustained effect on continued breastfeeding.     

A systematic review of structured compared with non-structured breastfeeding programmes to support the initiation and duration of exclusive and any breastfeeding in acute and primary health care settings

Policies and guidelines have recommended that structured programmes to support breastfeeding should be introduced. The objective of this review was to consider the evidence of outcomes of structured compared with non-structured breastfeeding programmes in acute maternity care settings to support initiation and duration of exclusive breastfeeding. Quantitative and qualitative studies were considered. Primary outcomes of interest were initiation of breastfeeding and duration of exclusive breastfeeding. Studies that only considered community-based interventions were excluded. An extensive search of literature published in 1992-2010 was undertaken using identified key words and index terms. Methodological quality was assessed using checklists developed by the Joanna Briggs Institute. Two independent reviewers conducted critical appraisal and data extraction; 26 articles were included. Because of clinical and methodological heterogeneity of study designs, it was not possible to combine studies or individual outcomes in meta-analyses. Most studies found a statistically significant improvement in breastfeeding initiation following introduction of a structured breastfeeding programme, although effect sizes varied. The impact on the duration of exclusive breastfeeding and duration of any breastfeeding to 6 months was also evident, although not all studies found statistically significant differences. Despite poor overall study quality, structured programmes compared with standard care positively influence the initiation and duration of exclusive breastfeeding and any breastfeeding. In health care settings with low breastfeeding initiation and duration rates, structured programmes may have a greater benefit. Few studies controlled for any potential confounding factors, and the impact of bias has to be considered.     

Effectiveness of Baby‐friendly community health services on exclusive breastfeeding and maternal satisfaction: a pragmatic trial

The WHO/UNICEF Baby‐friendly Hospital Initiative has been shown to increase breastfeeding rates, but uncertainty remains about effective methods to improve breastfeeding in community health services. The aim of this pragmatic cluster quasi‐randomised controlled trial was to assess the effectiveness of implementing the Baby‐friendly Initiative (BFI) in community health services. The primary outcome was exclusive breastfeeding until 6 months in healthy babies. Secondary outcomes were other breastfeeding indicators, mothers' satisfaction with the breastfeeding experience, and perceived pressure to breastfeed. A total of 54 Norwegian municipalities were allocated by alternation to the BFI in community health service intervention or routine care. All mothers with infants of five completed months were invited to participate (n = 3948), and 1051 mothers in the intervention arm and 981 in the comparison arm returned the questionnaire. Analyses were by intention to treat. Women in the intervention group were more likely to breastfeed exclusively compared with those who received routine care: 17.9% vs. 14.1% until 6 months [cluster adjusted odds ratio (OR) = 1.33; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.03, 1.72; P = 0.03], 41.4% vs. 35.8% until 5 months [cluster adjusted OR = 1.39; 95% CI: 1.09, 1.77; P = 0.01], and 72.1% vs. 68.2% for any breastfeeding until 6 months [cluster adjusted OR = 1.24; 95% CI: 0.99, 1.54; P = 0.06]. The intervention had no effect on breastfeeding until 12 months. Maternal breastfeeding experience in the two groups did not differ, neither did perceived breastfeeding pressure from staff in the community health services. In conclusion, the BFI in community health services increased rates of exclusive breastfeeding until 6 months. © 2015 Blackwell Publishing Ltd     

The revitalization and scale‐up of the Baby‐Friendly Hospital Initiative in Malawi

The Baby‐Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI) has shown to strengthen health providers' skills in the provision of breastfeeding counselling and support, which have led to improvements in breastfeeding outcomes. In Malawi, where BFHI was introduced in 1993 but later languished due to losses in funding, the Maternal and Child Survival Program supported the Malawi Ministry of Health (MOH) in the revitalization and scale‐up of BFHI in 54 health facilities across all 28 districts of the country. This paper describes the revitalization and scale‐up process within the context of an integrated health project; successes, challenges, and lessons learned with BFHI implementation; and the future of BFHI in Malawi. More than 80,000 mothers received counselling on exclusive breastfeeding following childbirth prior to discharge from the health facility. Early initiation of breastfeeding was tracked quarterly from baseline through endline via routine MOH health facility data. Increases in early initiation of breastfeeding were seen in two of the three regions of Malawi: by 2% in the Central region and 6% in the Southern region. Greater integration of BFHI into Malawi's health system is recommended, including improved preservice and in‐service trainings for health providers to include expanded BFHI content, increased country financial investments in BFHI, and integration of BFHI into national clinical guidelines, protocols, and nutrition and health policies.     

Compliance with the “Baby‐friendly Hospital Initiative for Neonatal Wards” in 36 countries

In 2012, the Baby‐friendly Hospital Initiative for Neonatal Wards (Neo‐BFHI) began providing recommendations to improve breastfeeding support for preterm and ill infants. This cross‐sectional survey aimed to measure compliance on a global level with the Neo‐BFHI's expanded Ten Steps to successful breastfeeding and three Guiding Principles in neonatal wards. In 2017, the Neo‐BFHI Self‐Assessment questionnaire was used in 15 languages to collect data from neonatal wards of all levels of care. Answers were summarized into compliance scores ranging from 0 to 100 at the ward, country, and international levels. A total of 917 neonatal wards from 36 low‐, middle‐, and high‐income countries from all continents participated. The median international overall score was 77, and median country overall scores ranged from 52 to 91. Guiding Principle 1 (respect for mothers), Step 5 (breastfeeding initiation and support), and Step 6 (human milk use) had the highest scores, 100, 88, and 88, respectively. Step 3 (antenatal information) and Step 7 (rooming‐in) had the lowest scores, 63 and 67, respectively. High‐income countries had significantly higher scores for Guiding Principles 2 (family‐centered care), Step 4 (skin‐to‐skin contact), and Step 5. Neonatal wards in hospitals ever‐designated Baby‐friendly had significantly higher scores than those never designated. Sixty percent of managers stated they would like to obtain Neo‐BFHI designation. Currently, Neo‐BFHI recommendations are partly implemented in many countries. The high number of participating wards indicates international readiness to expand Baby‐friendly standards to neonatal settings. Hospitals and governments should increase their efforts to better support breastfeeding in neonatal wards.     

The role of breastfeeding promotion in German hospitals for exclusive breastfeeding duration

Breastfeeding promotion and support in hospitals is expected to have a positive impact on maternal breastfeeding outcomes. The objective of this study is to examine the association between breastfeeding promotion in maternity hospitals in Germany and exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) rates during the first 4 months. Thus, a nationwide cross‐sectional web‐based survey of breastfeeding promotion was conducted in 103 hospitals. Mother–infant pairs (n = 962) were recruited at these hospitals for a prospective web‐based survey of breastfeeding status at five‐time points, that is, during a hospital stay, at discharge as well as after 0.5, 2, and 4 months. The hospital analysis was based on the “10 Steps to Successful Breastfeeding” of the World Health Organization and the United Nations Children''s Fund, adapted for Germany. Their degree of implementation was stratified by a breastfeeding promotion index (BPI) as low (≤5 steps), medium (6–8 steps), and high (≥9 steps). The association between the BPI and the odds of EBF at each of the five‐time points was estimated by multivariable regression models, adjusting for various maternal factors. At all time points, the proportion of EBF among mothers from high BPI hospitals exceeded the proportion of those from medium or low BPI hospitals. A high BPI was associated with higher odds of EBF during the hospital stay and at discharge, while maternal factors for EBF such as breastfeeding experience and no early use of a pacifier persisted beyond. The high commitment of hospitals and tailored support of mothers is essential for EBF.     

Global implications of the new WHO and UNICEF implementation guidance on the revised Baby‐Friendly Hospital Initiative

Although breastfeeding confers both short‐ and long‐term benefits for children and their mothers, breastfeeding practice remains suboptimal, globally. In addition to barriers including misperceptions and inappropriate marketing of breast milk substitutes, inadequate support for breastfeeding remains a challenge in many settings. To improve access to appropriate health system support, the World Health Organization (WHO) has reviewed the Baby‐Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI), which ensures provision of optimal clinical care and support to mothers and their infants. This review has resulted in revision of the Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding, which form the core standards of (BFHI). These now consist of critical management procedures to support breastfeeding (Steps 1 and 2) and key clinical practices to support breastfeeding (Steps 3‐10). In Step 1, there is now specific emphasis on compliance with the WHO Code of Marketing of Breast‐milk Substitutes and relevant World Health Assembly resolutions as well as on internal monitoring. There are also significant position shifts like the recommendation to “Counsel mothers on the use and risks of feeding bottles, teats, and pacifiers,” which is a departure from the earlier position of avoiding reference to these technologies. These revisions require countries and states to revise activities and tools for their local situation but without compromising the standards.     

UNICEF UK Baby Friendly Initiative: Providing,receiving and leading infant feeding care in a hospital maternity setting—A critical ethnography

Although breastfeeding is known to improve health, economic and environmental outcomes, breastfeeding initiation and continuation rates are low in the United Kingdom. The global WHO/UNICEF Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI) aims to reverse declining rates of breastfeeding by shifting the culture of infant feeding care provision throughout hospital maternity settings. In the United Kingdom, the global BFHI has been adapted by UNICEF UK reflecting a paradigm shift towards the experiences of women and families using maternity services. This research used a critical ethnographic approach to explore the influence of the national UNICEF UK Baby Friendly Initiative (BFI) standards on the culture of one typical maternity service in England, over a period of 8 weeks, across four phases of data collection between 2011 and 2017. Twenty‐one staff and 26 service users were recruited and engaged in moderate‐level participant observation and/or guided interviews and conversations. Basic, organising and a final global theme emerged through thematic network analysis, describing the influence of the BFI on providing, receiving and leading infant feeding care in a hospital maternity setting. Using Antonovsky''s sense of coherence construct, the findings discussed in this paper highlight how the BFI offers ‘informational’ (comprehensible), ‘practical’ (manageable) and ‘emotional’ (meaningful) support for both staff and service users, strengthened by effective, local leadership and a team approach. This is juxtaposed against the tensions and demands of the busy hospital maternity setting. It is recommended that ongoing infant feeding policy, practice and leadership balance relational and rational approaches for positive infant feeding care and experiences to flourish.     

The impact of the UK Baby Friendly Initiative on maternal and infant health outcomes: A mixed‐methods systematic review

Global evidence demonstrates that adherence to the Baby Friendly Initiative (BFI) has a positive impact on multiple child health outcomes, including breastfeeding initiation and duration up to 1 year post‐partum. However, it is currently unclear whether these findings extend to specific countries with resource‐rich environments. This mixed‐methods systematic review aims to (a) examine the impact of BFI implementation (hospital and community) on maternal and infant health outcomes in the United Kingdom (UK) and (b) explore the experiences and views of women receiving BFI‐compliant care in the UK. Two authors independently extracted data including study design, participants, and results. There is no UK data available relating to wider maternal or infant health outcomes. Two quantitative studies indicate that Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative implementation has a positive impact on breastfeeding outcomes up to 1 week post‐partum but this is not sustained. There was also some evidence for the positive impact of individual steps of Baby Friendly Community Initiative (n = 3) on breastfeeding up to 8 weeks post‐partum. Future work is needed to confirm whether BFI (hospital and community) is effective in supporting longer term breastfeeding and wider maternal and infant health outcomes in the UK. A meta‐synthesis of five qualitative studies found that support from health professionals is highly influential to women's experiences of BFI‐compliant care, but current delivery of BFI may promote unrealistic expectations of breastfeeding, not meet women's individual needs, and foster negative emotional experiences. These findings reinforce conclusions that the current approach to BFI needs to be situationally modified in resource‐rich settings.     

Length of time in Ghana is associated with the likelihood of exclusive breastfeeding among Liberian refugees living in Buduburam

While literature describing immigrant's breastfeeding practices exists, especially among those living within developed countries, there is a significant gap in knowledge on how the host culture may influence the EBF behaviors of refugees, especially those living in protracted situations within sub‐Saharan Africa. A cross‐sectional study was conducted in the Buduburam Refugee Settlement in Ghana from July‐August 2008 to explore the association between the amount of time living in Ghana and exclusive breastfeeding practices among Liberian refugees and Ghanaians in surround villages. The study included 480 women: 239 Liberians living in 12 settlement zones (in two of which Liberians and Ghanaians co‐exist), 121 Ghanaians living in two settlement zones, and 120 Ghanaians living in nearby urban village of Awutu. Liberian mothers who lived in Ghana at least eight years were significantly more likely to exclusively breastfeed (OR: 1.78, 95% CI: 1.02, 3.09) compared to Ghanaian mothers living in Awutu. These findings suggest that increased time living in Buduburam improved the chances of EBF success among Liberians, perhaps as a result of unique EBF education/support opportunities offered in the settlement to Liberian refugees that were not readily available to Ghanaians. Further research to understand the “mechanisms” explaining exclusive breastfeeding differences as a function of time spent in host country is needed for improving breastfeeding support in refugee settlements and host communities.     

Improving exclusive breastfeeding in low and middle‐income countries: A systematic review

Exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) rates until 6 months in most low and middle income countries (LMICs) are well below the 90% World Health Organization benchmark. This systematic review sought to provide evidence on effectiveness of various interventions on EBF until 6 months in LMICs, compared with standard care. Experimental and observational studies with concurrent comparator promoting EBF, conducted in LMICs with high country rates of breastfeeding initiation, were included. Studies were identified from a systematic review and PUBMED, Cochrane, and CABI databases. Study selection, data abstraction, and quality assessment were carried out independently and in duplicate. Relative risks (RRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated for individual studies and pooled. High heterogeneity was explored through prespecified subgroup analyses for the primary outcome (EBF until 6 months) by context and by intervention for the randomized controlled trials. Prediction intervals were calculated for each effect estimate. Sixty‐seven studies with 79 comparisons from 30 LMICs were included. At 6 months, intervention group infants were more likely to be exclusively breastfed than controls (RR = 2.19, 95% CI [1.73, 2.77]; I² 78.4%; 25 randomized controlled trials). Larger effects were obtained from interventions delivered by a combination of professional and laypersons (RR 3.90, 95% CI [1.25, 12.21]; I² 46.7%), in interventions spanning antenatal and post‐natal periods (RR 2.40, 95% CI [1.70, 3.38]; I² 83.6%), and when intensity was between four to eight contacts/sessions (RR 3.20, 95% CI [2.30, 4.45]; I² 53.8%). Almost every intervention conducted in LMICs increased EBF rates; choice of intervention should therefore be driven by feasibility of delivery in the local context to reduce infant mortality.     

Effectiveness of interventions on breastfeeding self‐efficacy and perceived insufficient milk supply: A systematic review and meta‐analysis

The aim of this systematic review and meta‐analysis was to assess the efficacy on an intervention on breastfeeding self‐efficacy and perceived insufficient milk supply outcomes. The literature search was conducted among 6 databases (CINAHL, Medline, PsyncInfo, Scopus, Cochrane, and ProQuest) in between January 2000 to June 2016. Two reviewers independently assessed the articles for the following inclusion criteria: experimental or quasi‐experimental studies; healthy pregnant women participants intending to breastfeed or healthy breastfeeding women who gave birth to a term singleton and healthy baby; intervention administered could have been educational, support, psycho‐social, or breastfeeding self‐efficacy based, offered in prenatal or postnatal or both, in person, over the phone, or with the support of e‐technologies; breastfeeding self‐efficacy or perceived insufficient milk supply as outcomes. Seventeen studies were included in this review; 12 were randomized controlled trials. Most interventions were self‐efficacy based provided on 1‐to‐1 format. Meta‐analysis of RCTs revealed that interventions significantly improved breastfeeding self‐efficacy during the first 4 to 6 weeks (SMD = 0.40, 95% CI 0.11–0.69, p = 0.006). This further impact exclusive breastfeeding duration. Only 1 study reported data on perceived insufficient milk supply. Women who have made the choice to breastfeed should be offered breastfeeding self‐efficacy‐based interventions during the perinatal period. Although significant effect of the interventions in improving maternal breastfeeding self‐efficacy was revealed by this review, there is still a paucity of evidence on the mode, format, and intensity of interventions. Research on the modalities of breastfeeding self‐efficacy should be pursued.     

Association of hospital and community factors on the attainment of Baby‐Friendly designation: A breastfeeding health promotion

The Baby‐Friendly Hospital Initiative is a global health promotion intervention that outlines the Ten Steps hospitals should implement to support newborns'' breastfeeding. This US‐based study aimed to determine which hospital characteristics and community factors are associated with hospitals'' attainment of Baby‐Friendly designation. We used a cross‐sectional design and used 2018 data from the Baby‐Friendly, USA Inc. designation program merged with the American Hospital Association annual survey data set. Multilevel logistic regression analysis was used to assess hospital characteristics of interest among the sample consisting of 312 Baby‐Friendly hospitals and 1449 non‐Baby‐Friendly. Our results show that Baby‐Friendly hospitals are more likely to be government nonfederal hospitals, in the Midwest or South regions, serve communities with higher birth totals, and reside in competitive markets. Based on the results of this study, hospitals should seek further and examine their community''s characteristics and structures to identify opportunities and encourage the attainment of improved breastfeeding initiatives such as Baby‐Friendly designation.     

Prevalence and determinants of exclusive breastfeeding during hospital stay in the area of Athens, Greece

AIM: To assess breastfeeding practices, focusing on the prevalence and the determinants of exclusive breastfeeding during hospital stay. METHODS: A cross-sectional study of 1603 healthy women, who delivered healthy infants weighing more than 2500 g, was conducted in the area of Athens, Greece. Participants completed a self-administered questionnaire on the day they were discharged from the maternity ward. Classification of breastfeeding and recall period from birth to discharge were in accordance with the WHO criteria. Hierarchical logistic regression analysis was used to study determinants of exclusive breastfeeding initiation. RESULTS: Breastfeeding initiation was reported by 96.1% of the participants. However, exclusive breastfeeding was initiated only in 19.1% and predominant breastfeeding in 7.2% of the cases. The univariate analysis showed that maternal younger age, low educational level, unemployment, vaginal delivery, infant birthweight >3000 g, multiparity, early initiation of breastfeeding, rooming-in and awareness on the existence of breastfeeding centres were associated with higher rates of exclusive breastfeeding. Logistic regression analysis revealed that rooming-in (OR 3.72, p<0.01), demand feeding (OR 2.18, p<0.01), type of delivery (OR 1.61, p<0.01) and the source of information received about breastfeeding are more important determinants of exclusive breastfeeding than the socio-demographic parameters. CONCLUSIONS: Exclusive breastfeeding during hospital stay in the area of Athens is low. Demand feeding and rooming-in positively influence exclusive breastfeeding initiation, while caesarean section and information by mass media have a negative impact.     

Assessing the impact of a statewide effort to improve breastfeeding rates: A RE‐AIM evaluation of CHAMPS in Mississippi

Communities and Hospitals Advancing Maternity Practices (CHAMPS) is a public health initiative, operating in Mississippi since 2014, to improve maternal and child health practices and reduce racial disparities in breastfeeding. Using the Reach, Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation and Maintenance framework, this study assessed CHAMPS, which used a Quality Improvement intervention at hospitals, and engaged intensively with local community partners. The study team assessed outcomes through quantitative data (2014–2020) from national sources, Mississippi hospitals, community partners and CHAMPS programme records, and qualitative data from focus groups. With 95% of eligible Mississippi hospitals enrolled into CHAMPS, the programme reached 98% of eligible birthing women in Mississippi, and 65% of breastfeeding peer counsellors in Mississippi''s Special Supplemental Nutrition Programme for Women, Infants and Children. Average hospital breastfeeding initiation rates rose from 56% to 66% (p < 0.05), the proportion of hospitals designated Baby‐Friendly or attaining the final stages thereof rose from 15% to 90%, and 80% of Mississippi Special Supplemental Programme for Women, Infants, and Children districts engaged with CHAMPS. CHAMPS also maintains a funded presence in Mississippi, and all designated hospitals have maintained Baby‐Friendly status. These findings show that a breastfeeding‐focused public health initiative using broad‐based strategic programming involving multiple stakeholders and a range of evaluation criteria can be successful. More breastfeeding promotion and support programmes should assess their wider impact using evidence‐based implementation frameworks.     

How multiple episodes of exclusive breastfeeding impact estimates of exclusive breastfeeding duration: report from the eight‐site MAL‐ED birth cohort study

The duration of exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) is often defined as the time from birth to the first non‐breast milk food/liquid fed (EBFLONG), or it is estimated by calculating the proportion of women at a given infant age who EBF in the previous 24 h (EBFDHS). Others have measured the total days or personal prevalence of EBF (EBFPREV), recognizing that although non‐EBF days may occur, EBF can be re‐initiated for extended periods. We compared breastfeeding metrics in the MAL‐ED study; infants' breastfeeding trajectories were characterized from enrollment (median 7 days, IQR: 4, 12) to 180 days at eight sites. During twice‐weekly surveillance, caretakers were queried about infant feeding the prior day. Overall, 101 833 visits and 356 764 child days of data were collected from 1957 infants. Median duration of EBFLONG was 33 days (95% CI: 32–36), compared to 49 days based on the EBFDHS. Median EBFPREV was 66 days (95% CI: 62–70). Differences were because of the return to EBF after a non‐EBF period. The median number of returns to EBF was 2 (IQR: 1, 3). When mothers re‐initiated EBF (second episode), infants gained an additional 18.8 days (SD: 25.1) of EBF, and gained 13.7 days (SD: 18.1) (third episode). In settings where women report short gaps in EBF, programmes should work with women to return to EBF. Interventions could positively influence the duration of these additional periods of EBF and their quantification should be considered in impact evaluation studies. © 2016 John Wiley & Sons Ltd