A large scale rooming-in program in a developing country: the Dr. Jose Fabella Memorial Hospital experience.

This paper describes the successful expansion of a pilot rooming-in project to rooming-in for all mothers, whether they gave birth vaginally or by cesarean section. Babies in Intensive Care are also given breast milk as much as possible. This policy has resulted in reduced bleeding and hospital stays, and decreased costs, among other things. Objective indicators for different aspects of the program are currently being assessed. Four reasons are given for success: strong political will; persistent administrative determination; trained personnel; and an informed public.