Breastfeeding promotion and support: a quality improvement study

Abstract

Background: Breastfeeding success is determined by early skin to skin contact, early initiation of breastfeeding, rooming-in, baby-led breastfeeding, creation of a favorable environment, specific training of health professionals, and continuity of care.

Objective: To investigate the women's satisfaction regarding the care and support received in the first days after childbirth.

Material and methods: A questionnaire of 24 items was administered to mothers before discharge, from May to September 2019 at the University Hospital of Modena.

Results: The predictive variables of exclusive breastfeeding were the delivery mode, age at birth and parity. The multivariate analysis showed that a high satisfaction score was associated with vaginal birth (OR=2.63, p=0.005), rooming-in during the hospitalization (OR=8.64, p<0.001), the skin to skin contact (OR=6.61, p=0.001) and the first latch-on within 1 hour after birth (OR=3.00, p=0.02).

Conclusions: Mothers' satisfaction is one of the important factors of positive experience during hospital stay and of better health outcomes.