%0 Journal Article
%@ 0890-3344 (Druck-Ausg.), 1552-5732 (Online-Ausg.)
%A Agbozo, Faith
%A Ocansey, Doris
%A Atitto, Prosper
%A Jahn, Albrecht
%C Thousand Oaks, Calif.
%D 2020
%F heidok:29132
%I Sage Science Press
%J Journal of Human Lactation
%N 1
%P 175-186
%R 10.11588/heidok.00029132
%T Compliance of a Baby-Friendly Designated Hospital in Ghana With the WHO/UNICEF Baby and Mother-Friendly Care Practices
%U https://archiv.ub.uni-heidelberg.de/volltextserver/29132/
%V 36
%X Background: Although the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative has improved breastfeeding rates globally, weak monitoring still affects hospital-level implementation.    Research aim: To reassess compliance of a Baby-Friendly Hospital with the Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding, International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes, HIV and Infant Feeding, and Mother-Friendly Care following the WHO/UNICEF global criteria.    Methods: In this cross-sectional, prospective, mixed-methods study (N = 180), clinical staff (n = 60), pregnant women (n = 40), postpartum mothers (n = 60), and mothers of babies in intensive care (n = 20) were randomly selected from one urban secondary-level public hospital in Ghana designated as Baby-Friendly in 2004 but never reassessed. Data were collected through interviews, document reviews, and observations using the revised WHO/UNICEF external reassessment tool and analyzed quantitatively using the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative computer tool. Scores higher than 80% signified a pass (high compliance). Scores rated as low (< 50%) and moderate (50–80%) signified noncompliance.    Results: The facility passed the criteria for full compliance with the International Code (86%) but failed other components. Compliance with the Ten Steps was moderate (55%). Step 7 about rooming-in (84%) and Step 9 about human milk substitutes (100%) were passed, whereas Step 1 about written breastfeeding policies (0%), Step 2 about staff training (7%), and Step 4 about early breastfeeding initiation (31%) were met the least. Compliance with Mother-Friendly Care (34%) and HIV and Infant Feeding (47%) were low. Main implementation gaps were unavailability of policies and staff’s inadequate knowledge about Baby-Friendly practices.    Conclusions: Improving staff training and maternal counseling, routinely reassessing designated facilities, and providing  technical support in problematic areas might sustain implementation.
%Z Dieser Beitrag ist aufgrund einer (DFG-geförderten) Allianz bzw. Nationallizenz frei zugänglich. *** This publication is freely accessible due to an Alliance licence and a national licence (funded by the DFG, German Research Foundation) respectively.