Skip to main content

Table 3 Survey results

From: Perspectives about the baby friendly hospital/health initiative in Australia: an online survey

Statements

Strongly disagree

n (%)

Disagree

n (%)

Neutral

n (%)

Agree

n (%)

Strongly agree

n (%)

1. Policy and guideline support and improvement of breastfeeding and the BFHI

Australian health policies support breastfeeding as a public health issue. (n = 234)

10 (4.3)

63 (26.9)

60 (25.6)

79 (33.8)

22 (9.4)

Australian health policies support implementation of the BFHI. (n = 235)

13 (5.5)

55 (23.4)

80 (34.0)

71 (30.2)

16 (6.8)

Advertising for toddler formula should be banned in Australia. (n = 191)

6 (3.1)

16 (8.4)

7 (3.7)

28 (14.7)

134 (70.2)

The Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes should be legislated in Australia to improve compliance. (n = 192)

2 (1.0)

4 (2.1)

11 (5.7)

45 (23.4)

130 (67.7)

Research funded by formula companies should be supervised by a governing body to ensure compliance with the Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes. (n = 192)

0 (0)

1 (.5)

12 (6.3)

44 (22.9)

135 (70.3)

Most maternity facilities in Australia adhere to the Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes. (n = 192)

17 (8.9)

40 (20.8)

84 (43.8)

46 (24.0)

5 (2.6)

Current breastfeeding guidelines provide adequate details about when it is medically essential to provide formula for infants. (n = 192)

22 (11.5)

61 (31.8)

42 (21.9)

57 (29.7)

10 (5.2)

The BFHI guidelines address cultural differences in feeding practices. (n = 195)

5 (2.6)

62 (31.8)

87 (44.6)

38 (19.5)

3 (1.5)

2. Leadership support to implement the BFHI

Organisational leadership influences implementation of the BFHI. (n = 237)

4 (1.7)

1 (.4)

19 (8.0)

69 (29.1)

144 (60.8)

Mothers receive adequate support for breastfeeding postnatally (n = 188)

54 (28.7)

79 (42.0)

28 (14.9)

21 (11.2)

6 (3.2)

3. Breastfeeding and BFHI related knowledge

Up-to-date educational resources are freely available for staff to support implementation of the BFHI. (n = 236)

6 (2.5)

47 (19.9)

58 (25.0)

74 (31.4)

50 (21.2)

Breastfeeding-related education should be compulsory for staff involved in caring for mothers and babies. (n = 236)

2 (.8)

2 (.8)

2 (.8)

30 (12.7)

200 (84.7)

Mothers are provided with information by healthcare staff about how and where to access appropriate breastfeeding resources. (n = 235)

7 (3.0)

37 (15.7)

45 (19.1)

101 (43.0)

45 (19.1)

Healthcare professionals are aware of the benefits of implementing the Ten Steps. (n = 191)

18 (9.4)

58 (30.4)

45 (23.6)

59 (30.9)

11 (5.8)

4. Accreditation and reaccreditation

BFHI accreditation is not essential if appropriate practices (implementing the Ten Steps) exist. (n = 194)

26 (13.4)

66 (34.0)

36 (18.6)

52 (26.8)

14 (7.2)

The Ten Steps are consistent with current evidence-based practice on breastfeeding. (n = 195)

1 (.5)

6 (3.1)

18 (9.2)

115 (59.0)

55 (28.2)

In settings where the initiation rate of breastfeeding is high, implementation of the BFHI has less impact. (n = 194)

23 (11.9)

81 (41.8)

52 (26.8)

33 (17.0)

5 (2.6)

Formal organisational structures are required within maternity settings to monitor and evaluate the implementation of the BFHI. (n = 236)

1 (.4)

6 (2.5)

11 (4.7)

101 (42.8)

117 (49.6)

Changes to current models of maternity care may be more influential in improving breastfeeding outcomes than BFHI accreditation. (n = 195)

4 (2.1)

28 (14.4)

41 (21.0)

77 (39.5)

45 (23.1)

The financial cost of the BFHI accreditation for maternity settings is worth the health outcomes for mothers and infants. (n = 196)

4 (2.0)

23 (11.7)

50 (25.5)

59 (30.1)

60 (30.6)

Feedback from a range of key stakeholders (e.g. mothers and/or interdisciplinary staff) is essential for successful implementation of the BFHI. (n = 191)

1 (.5)

0 (0)

6 (3.1)

89 (46.6)

95 (49.7)

Continuous monitoring of BFHI accredited maternity facilities is essential to ensure ongoing compliance by these health facilities. (n = 191)

0 (0)

3 (1.6)

10 (5.2)

95 (49.7)

83 (43.5)

5. Implementation complexity

The choice to breastfeed is influenced by a mother’s values about breastfeeding. (n = 188)

2 (1.1)

12 (6.4)

6 (3.2)

102 (54.3)

66 (35.1)

Support for breastfeeding by social media influences mothers’ breastfeeding decisions. (n = 188)

0 (0)

7 (3.7)

20 (10.6)

102 (54.3)

59 (31.4)

Breastfeeding in public is supported in the Australian context. (n = 188)

13 (6.9)

65 (34.6)

52 (27.7)

53 (28.2)

5 (2.7)

Societal acceptance of breastfeeding influences mothers breastfeeding decisions. (n = 188)

0 (0)

4 (2.1)

11 (5.9)

88 (46.8)

85 (45.2)

Communication among stakeholders

An interdisciplinary team approach is required for successful implementation of the BFHI. (n = 236)

2 (.8)

4 (1.7)

8 (3.4)

73 (30.9)

149 (63.1)