[Exclusive breastfeeding at the point of discharge of high-risk newborns at a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and the factors associated with this practice].

OBJECTIVE

To study the rate of exclusive breastfeeding at the moment of hospital discharge of newborns admitted to a neonatal Intensive Care Unit and to analyze potential risk factors.

METHODS

Four hundred and ninety-five medical records were studied, pertaining to neonates born between 1998 and 1999, admitted to a neonatal intensive care unit, before and after the implementation of the Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative policies. Babies born during the Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative transition period and outside the Maternity ward were excluded from the study, as were children or mothers who were transferred from the institution, abandoned children and also mothers unfit to breastfeed. Risk factors for non-exclusive breast-feeding at discharge were studied. Odds ratio and 95% confidence intervals were calculated using multivariate logistic regression.

RESULTS

The exclusive breastfeeding rate increased from 36% at discharge (before the Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative) to 54.7% (after BFHI). The independent risk factors associated with non-exclusive breastfeeding were the use of enteral feeding (OR = 3.01), ante-natal consultations < 6 (OR = 2.75), relactation use (OR = 2.66), birth weight < 2,500 g (OR = 2.64) and being born during the period before Baby Friendly policies were implemented (OR = 2.75).

CONCLUSION

This research shows the potential efficiency of adopting Baby Friendly policies to increase the chance of successful breastfeeding at the point of discharge for high-risk newborns.