A training program on exclusive breastfeeding in maternity wards

Objectives: To estimate whether a 3-day training program for health professionals was followed by changes in maternity ward practices and in the rate of exclusive breastfeeding. Methods: A retrospective study in the maternity ward of a French university hospital involved two cross-sectional samples of 323 mother-infant pairs in 1997 and 324 in 2000. Results: The rate of exclusive breastfeeding at discharge increased from 15.8% (12.0-20.2) in the before sample to 35.2% (30.0-40.6) in the after sample (P<0.01). This result persisted in the multivariable analysis [adjusted odds ratio, 2.74 (1.72-4.37)]. Infants in the before sample were less likely to be breastfed within I It of birth (9.2% vs. 16.9%, P=0.01), to room-in 24 h/day (56.6% vs. 72.6%, P<0.01), and were more likely to receive formula supplementation (77.6% vs. 54.0%, P<0.01). Conclusions: A training program for health professionals can be effective in improving maternity ward practices and increasing exclusive breastfeeding rate at discharge. (c) 2003 International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics. Published by Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.