Breastfeeding practices and policies in WHO European Region Member States

Dados Bibliográficos

ID15097342
AutoresTülay Ayşe Bosi Bağcı (0000-0003-2487-8099, Hacettepe University), Ayse Tulay Bagci Bosi, Kamilla G Eriksen (0000-0001-8909-061X, MRC Human Nutrition Research, autor correspondente), Tanja Sobko (0000-0003-1133-3655, University of Hong Kong), Trudy Wijnhoven (World Health Organization Regional Office for Europe), Trudy MA Wijnhoven, Jef Breda (0000-0002-8177-4926, World Health Organization Regional Office for Europe), Joäo Breda
Ano2016
Volume19
Fascículo4
Páginas753-764
Data de publicação2016-03-01
Peer ReviewedSim
Open AccessSim
TipoARTICLE
PeriódicoPublic Health Nutrition (JOURNAL)
Identificadores do periódicoISSN: 1368-9800 • E-ISSN: 1475-2727
EditoraCambridge University Press (CUP) (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1017/s1368980015001767
PMID26096540
OpenAlexW1879267972
IdiomaEN
Citações recebidas30
Referências citadas26

Objective To provide an update on current practices and policy development status concerning breastfeeding in the WHO European Region. Design National surveys and studies conducted by national health institutions were prioritized. Sub-national data were included where no national data or studies existed. Information on national breastfeeding policies was collected mainly from the WHO Seventh Meeting of Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative Coordinators and European Union projects. Owing to the different data sources and methods, any comparisons between countries must be made with caution. Setting WHO European Member States. Results Data from fifty-three WHO European Member States were investigated; however, a large proportion had not reported any data. Rates of early initiation of breastfeeding, exclusive breastfeeding and continued breastfeeding to 1 year all varied considerably within the WHO European Region. Exclusive breastfeeding rates declined considerably after 4 months, and were low in infants under 6 months and at 6 months of age. The majority of the countries with existing data reported having a national infant and young child feeding policy and the establishment of a national committee on breastfeeding or infant and young child feeding. The majority of the countries with existing data reported having baby-friendly hospitals, although the proportion of baby-friendly hospitals to the total number of national hospitals with maternity units was low in most countries. Conclusions Breastfeeding practices within the WHO European Region, especially exclusive breastfeeding rates, are far from complying with the WHO recommendations. There are marked differences between countries in breastfeeding practices, infant and young child feeding policy adoption and proportion of baby-friendly hospitals

Breastfeeding · Business · Environmental health · European union · International trade · Member states · Political science · Breastfeeding Practices and Influences · Child Nutrition and Water Access · Infant Nutrition and Health · Medicine · Pediatrics