A breastfeeding intervention increased breast feeding and reduced GI tract infections and atopic eczema
QUESTION: In women who have initiated breast feeding, does a breastfeeding promotion intervention increase duration and exclusivity of breast feeding and reduce gastrointestinal (GI) tract infection?
Design
Cluster randomised (cluster allocation concealed), unblinded, controlled trial with 12 months of follow up.
Setting
32 maternity hospitals and clinics in Belarus.
Participants
Mother-infant pairs were enrolled if the mother intended to breast feed, had no illnesses contraindicating breast feeding, and had given birth to a healthy, singleton infant who had a gestational age ≥37 weeks, birth weight ≥2500 g, and a 5 minute Apgar score ≥5. 17046 mother-infant pairs were enrolled and 16442 (97%) completed follow up. 31 sites were included in the analysis.
Intervention
Study sites were allocated to an experimental intervention based on the Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI) (n=16) or a control intervention of standard …
