Assessing the training, knowledge, and attitudes of healthcare workers on the Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative

Abstract

Abstract: Background: The babyfriendly hospital initiative (BFHI) is a quality improvement strategy designed to support the initiation, maintenance, and exclusive breastfeeding and equips healthcare workers to promote successful breastfeeding.
Objectives: To assess the training of healthcare workers, knowledge, and attitudes regarding the BFHIat the Cecilia Makiwane Hospital neonatal unit, which is one of the BFHI accredited facilities in South Africa.
Methods: A survey was conducted  amongst 62 clinical members of staff in the neonatal units of the hospital in August 2020.
Results: Only 40.3% of the healthcare workers had received formal BFHI training. Of these, only 11% had been trained in the previous two years. This falls short of the standard set by the World Health Organization (WHO) of more than 80% in the previous two years. More than 80% of the healthcare workers correctly defined the aim of the BFHI, exclusive breastfeeding and early initiation of breastfeeding. However, fewer than 67% knew the definitions of demand feeding and rooming in. Only  55% knew the correct management of mastitis, one of the common breastfeeding difficulties. Over 80% of healthcare workers did not view the BFHI as a burden to staff.
Conclusion: Although the BFHI training was below the WHO recommendations in terms of the proportion of staff trained, the staff had good knowledge and positive attitudes towards BFHI. There is a need to improve the frequency of BFHI training focusing on less understood areas such as rooming in, demand feeding and the management of mastitis.