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Table 1 Comparison of Baby-Friendly practices and the items in questionnaire

From: Effects of baby-friendly practices on breastfeeding duration in China: a case-control study

Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding (WHO,1998)

Items in Questionnaire

Step 1: Have a written breastfeeding policy that is routinely communicated to all health care staff.

Q1:Did you receive a gift pack with formula from the staff in the hospital?

Step 2: Train all health care staff in skills necessary to implement this policy.

Q2:During the first skin-to-skin contact,

Q2.1 Contact of the newbirth body’s skin with mothers?

Q2.2 Lasts for at least 30 min?

Q2.3 Within the first hour after birth?

Step 3: Inform all pregnant women about the benefits and management of breastfeeding.

Q3: Did the medical or nursing staff provide you with breastfeeding information?

Step 4: Help mothers initiate breastfeeding within half a hour of birth.

Q4: Was the baby breastfed within the first hour after birth?

Step 5: Show mothers how to breastfeed and how to maintain lactation even if they should be separated from their infants.

Q5: Did the medical or nursing staff help you learn how to breastfeed?

Step 6: Give newborn infants no food or drink other than breast milk unless medically indicated.

Q6: During your stay in the hospital, was the baby fed with food or drink other than breast milk?

Step 7: Practise rooming-in (allow mothers and infants to remain together) 24 h a day.

Q7: While in the hospital, did the baby and you live in the same room?

Step 8: Encourage breastfeeding on demand.

Q8: Did the medical or nursing staff tell you the baby should be fed whenever he/she wants?

Step 9: Give no artificial teats or pacifiers (also called dummies and soothers) to breastfeeding infants.

Q9: Did the baby use a pacifier during the hospitalization?

Step 10: Foster the establishment of breastfeeding support groups and refer mothers to them on discharge from the hospital or clinic.

Q10: Did the medical or nursing staff give you the phone number or other ways to get breastfeeding support if you need?