Compliance With the "Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative for Neonatal Wards" in Russian Hospitals. (August 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Abolyan, Liubov V.; Haiek, Laura N.; Pastbina, Irina M.; Maastrup, Ragnhild
• Is Part Of: Journal of human lactation. Volume 37:Number 3(2021)
• Page Start: 521
• Page End: 531
• Publication Date: 2021-08
• Subjects: Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative -- Baby-friendly Hospital Initiative for Neonatal Wards -- breastfeeding -- exclusive breastfeeding -- health services research -- neonatology -- Neo-BFHI Self-Assessment Questionnaire -- Russia -- survey research; грудное вскармливание -- Инициатива «Больница -- доброжелательная к ребенку» -- исследования по оказанию медицинской помощи -- неонатология -- исключительно грудное вскармливание; Breastfeeding -- Periodicals; Lactation -- Periodicals; 612.664
• DOI: 10.1177/08903344211002754
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0890-3344

Abstract

Background: The expansion of the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative to neonatal wards, known as the Neo-BFHI, provides recommendations to support breastfeeding, as outlined in the Three Guiding Principles, the expanded Ten Steps, and the International Code for Marketing of Breast-Milk Substitutes. In 2017, Russia participated in an international survey about compliance with the Neo-BFHI. Research Aim: To assess breastfeeding support policies and practices in Russian neonatal wards at the country and federal district level in accordance with the Neo-BFHI recommendations. Methods: This study was a prospective cross-sectional survey. We used the Neo-BFHI Self-Assessment questionnaire to collect data from neonatal wards that had all levels of care. A total of N = 60 Russian neonatal wards in hospitals that have ever been designated Baby-Friendly or planned to do so participated in the survey. Results: Compliance scores at the federal district and country level ranging from 0–100 were used to summarize results. The median country overall score was 90 ( IQR = 83 – 93). Respect for mothers, continuity of care, having a breastfeeding policy, and rooming-in had the highest median scores. Family-centered care, antenatal informing, skin-to-skin contact, and human milk use had the lowest median scores. Neonatal wards in the hospitals that were ever designated as Baby-Friendly had significantly higher scores than those that were never designated. Most respondents ( n = 48, 80%) expressed a desire to obtain Neo-BFHI designation in their neonatal wards. Conclusion: Neo-BFHI recommendations can be successfully implemented in Russian neonatal wards at hospitals designated Baby-Friendly or planning to be designated.