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) |