Prevalence of breastfeeding up to the sixth month of the infant’s life and its association with breastfeeding self-efficacy and the perceived experience of the implementation of the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative’s 10 Steps for Successful Breastfeeding

Abstract

Breastmilk is the ideal source of infant nourishment. However, exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) for the first six months, as recommended by the WHO, remains relatively low even after three decades of international and national initiatives for the promotion of breastfeeding. While the effectiveness of the Baby-Friendly Hospital (BFH) Initiative’s “Ten Steps for Successful Breastfeeding” has been documented, there is often suboptimal implementation. No hospital in Cyprus has BFH certification and there is only anecdotal evidence with regards to the implementation of the 10 steps and the International Code for the Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes (ICMBS). Furthermore, the only data for breastfeeding is restricted to the first 48 hours. Low maternal breastfeeding self-efficacy (BFSE), which is influenced by maternity care practices, contributes to the premature discontinuation of breastfeeding.