Lamounier JA, Chaves RG, Rego MAS, Bouzada MCF. BABY FRIENDLY HOSPITAL INITIATIVE: 25 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IN BRAZIL.
ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2019;
37:486-493. [PMID:
31241692 PMCID:
PMC6821476 DOI:
10.1590/1984-0462/;2019;37;4;00004]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2017] [Accepted: 06/19/2018] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Objective:
To describe the experience of the 25-year-old trajectory of the Baby
Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI) in Brazil. The first unit was
implemented in 1992.
Methods:
Information and data were collected from publications on the World Health
Organization (WHO), the United Nations International Children’s Emergency
Fund (UNICEF) and the Ministry of Health websites and in national and
international journals, about the period 1990-2017. The descriptors used
were: “iniciativa hospital amigo da criança”, “hospital amigo da criança”,
“baby friendly initiative hospital”, “aleitamento
materno” and “breastfeeding”. The number of hospitals in
the 25 years, the course of the BFHI and its repercussions on breastfeeding
in Brazil were evaluated.
Results:
The BFHI is an intervention strategy in hospital care at birth focused on
the implementation of practices that promote exclusive breastfeeding from
the first hours of life and with the support, among other measures of
positive impact on breastfeeding, of the International Code of Marketing of
Breastmilk Substitutes. Currently, the initiative has been revised, updated
and expanded to integrate care for newborns in neonatal units and care for
women since prenatal care. It can be concluded that, during these 25 years,
the quantity of hospitals varied greatly, with numbers still below the
capacity of hospital beds. BFHI shows higher rates of breastfeeding than
non-accredited hospitals. However, the number of hospitals are still few
when compared to other countries.
Conclusions:
The BFHI has contributed to breastfeeding in Brazil in recent decades.
Greater support for public policies is needed to expand the number of
accredited institutions in the country.
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