Transitioning to Baby-Friendly: Challenges and Successes

• In Event: 2184 - Section on Medical Sociology Refereed Roundtable Session
  In Refereed Roundtable 60min: Table 07. Healthcare Organization and Policy

Abstract

The Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative is an international program founded by the World Health Organization and the United Nations Children’s Fund designed to increase breastfeeding rates worldwide. While a wide variation exists among countries in implementing the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative, the United States has seen a substantial increase in infants born in Baby-Friendly facilities over the past decade. This research employs a qualitative analysis to examine the transition of a medium-sized Midwestern hospital to Baby-Friendly status. Adding to the existing literature on the Baby-Friendly transition, this research finds that a strong and charismatic transition leader, paired with time for staff education promoted successful movement through the Baby-Friendly transition process. In addition, one major barrier to successful transition was getting buy-in from the obstetricians providing prenatal care. One solution to this problem was to provide Perinatal Nurse Navigators to obstetrician offices.

Author

• Amanda M. Lubold, Indiana State University