Newborn feeding practices and support in Gauteng, South Africa

Although breastfeeding is a key child survival strategy, breastfeeding practices in South African health institutions can generally be categorised as being poor. This cross-sectional study aimed to document practices around breastfeeding support and compliance with the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative s 10 steps to successful breastfeeding . Suboptimal practices were identified in both baby-friendly accredited and non-accredited facilities, but more so in the latter. None of the facilities passed all 10 steps. Steps that required advice and support from nursing staff - namely step 5 (showing mothers how to breastfeed), step 8 (encouraging breastfeeding on demand), and step 10 (breastfeeding support after discharge from the facility) were particularly poorly done in the majority of facilities. Baby-friendly certified institutions were significantly better than non-accredited facilities for steps 2 (training), 4 (initiating breastfeeding within 1 hour), and 7 (rooming-in). Baby-Friendly Hospitals could not maintain their accredited status on this assessment. However, some good practices appeared to be more sustainable over time.

Autorentext

Doctor Mimie Jordaan is a lecturer in the Division of Community Paediatrics, Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg. She completed her MSc degree in Child Health (Community Paediatrics) in 2010. Previous degrees: B Cur degree in nursing in 1984, and MBChB in 1992, both at Pretoria University.