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Canadian Journal of Public Health = Revue Canadienne de Santé Publique logoLink to Canadian Journal of Public Health = Revue Canadienne de Santé Publique
. 2000 Jan 1;91(1):51–57. doi: 10.1007/BF03404254

How Baby-friendly are Manitoba Hospitals? The Provincial Infant Feeding Study

Patricia J Martens 111,, Shirley J Phillips 211, Mary S Cheang 311, Vera Rosolowich 411, Vera Rosolowich, M Lynne Foley, Patricia Martens, Sheelagh Smith, Noreen Maguire, Lynn McGinn, Linda Uhrich, Lyla McLean, Marguerite Molgat Hughes, Linda Romphf, Cynthia Abbott Hommel, Kathy MacIver, Marie Carruthers, Shirley Phillips, Paul Fieldhouse, Alison Dixon, Ann Jolly, Gillian Andersson, John Guilfoyle, Lynn Baker, Molly Seshia, Noella Depew, Ellen Vogel, Noelie Lavergne
PMCID: PMC6979595  PMID: 10765586

Abstract

The Breastfeeding Promotion Steering Committee of Manitoba conducted the cross-sectional Provincial Infant Feeding Study in 1996 to examine: correlations between breastfeeding policies and actual practices in Manitoba hospitals; compliance with Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI) criteria; and associations between hospital practices and two-week breastfeeding duration.

Three separate surveys obtained information from: administrators concerning hospital policy; nursing staff concerning hospital practices; and all women giving birth in a five-week period, concerning breastfeeding rates and maternal perceptions of hospital practices. The results highlighted the need for policy and practice changes to comply with BFHI criteria. 92% initiated breastfeeding, and 84% were breastfeeding at two weeks postpartum. Independent predictors of weaning included: in-hospital supplementation (adjusted RR=2.1, 95% CI 1.02–4.36, p=0.04); temporarily interrupting breastfeeding while in hospital (adjusted RR = 4.9, 95% CI 2.7–8.9, p=0.0001); no previous breastfeeding experience (adjusted RR = 2.5, 95% CI 1.4–4.4, p=0.002); and Grade 12 or less maternal education (adjusted RR = 2.0, 95% CI 1.2-3.5, p=0.01).

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