AIM: This study reports the research methods and baseline data of a project aimed at assessing the effect of an intervention based on the 7 Steps of the Baby Friendly Community Initiative (BFCI) on the rate of exclusive breastfeeding at 6 months in Italy. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: In this controlled, nonrandomized study, nine Local Health Authorities were assigned to an early and nine to a late intervention group. Data on breastfeeding in infants followed up from birth to 12 months were gathered at baseline and in two subsequent rounds, after the 7 Steps were implemented in the early and late intervention groups, respectively. Step-down logistic regression analysis, corrected for the cluster effect, was used to compare breastfeeding rates between groups. RESULTS: At baseline, there were no significant differences in breastfeeding rates at birth (n=1,781) and at 3 (n=1,854), 6 (n=1,601), and 12 (n=1,510; loss to follow-up, 15.2%) months between groups. At birth, 96% of mothers initiated breastfeeding, 72% exclusively (recall from birth). At 3 months, 77% of infants were breastfed, 54% exclusively with 24-hour and 46% with 7-day recall. At 6 months, the rate of any breastfeeding was 62%, with 10% and 7% exclusive breastfeeding with 24-hour and 7-day recall, respectively. At 12 months, 31% of the children continued to breastfeed. CONCLUSIONS: The project is ongoing and will allow estimation of the effect of the BFCI.
AIM: This study reports the research methods and baseline data of a project aimed at assessing the effect of an intervention based on the 7 Steps of the Baby Friendly Community Initiative (BFCI) on the rate of exclusive breastfeeding at 6 months in Italy. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: In this controlled, nonrandomized study, nine Local Health Authorities were assigned to an early and nine to a late intervention group. Data on breastfeeding in infants followed up from birth to 12 months were gathered at baseline and in two subsequent rounds, after the 7 Steps were implemented in the early and late intervention groups, respectively. Step-down logistic regression analysis, corrected for the cluster effect, was used to compare breastfeeding rates between groups. RESULTS: At baseline, there were no significant differences in breastfeeding rates at birth (n=1,781) and at 3 (n=1,854), 6 (n=1,601), and 12 (n=1,510; loss to follow-up, 15.2%) months between groups. At birth, 96% of mothers initiated breastfeeding, 72% exclusively (recall from birth). At 3 months, 77% of infants were breastfed, 54% exclusively with 24-hour and 46% with 7-day recall. At 6 months, the rate of any breastfeeding was 62%, with 10% and 7% exclusive breastfeeding with 24-hour and 7-day recall, respectively. At 12 months, 31% of the children continued to breastfeed. CONCLUSIONS: The project is ongoing and will allow estimation of the effect of the BFCI.
Authors: M S Kramer; B Chalmers; E D Hodnett; Z Sevkovskaya; I Dzikovich; S Shapiro; J P Collet; I Vanilovich; I Mezen; T Ducruet; G Shishko; V Zubovich; D Mknuik; E Gluchanina; V Dombrovskiy; A Ustinovitch; T Kot; N Bogdanovich; L Ovchinikova; E Helsing Journal: JAMA Date: 2001 Jan 24-31 Impact factor: 56.272
Authors: Jeanne-Marie Guise; Valerie Palda; Carolyn Westhoff; Benjamin K S Chan; Mark Helfand; Tracy A Lieu Journal: Ann Fam Med Date: 2003 Jul-Aug Impact factor: 5.166
Authors: Bruce Maycock; Yvonne L Hauck; Peter Howat; Sharyn Burns; Colin W Binns; Jenny Tohotoa Journal: Int Breastfeed J Date: 2009-11-29 Impact factor: 3.461
Authors: Adriano Cattaneo; Maria Enrica Bettinelli; Elise Chapin; Anna Macaluso; Lílian Córdova do Espírito Santo; Anna Maria Murante; Marcella Montico Journal: BMJ Open Date: 2016-05-06 Impact factor: 2.692