A transition strategy for becoming a Baby-Friendly Hospital: Exploring the costs, benefits, and challenges

Jami Dellifraine, James Langabeer, Rigoberto Delgado, Janet F. Williams, Alice Gong

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

6 Scopus citations

Abstract

The objectives of this study were to provide an economic assessment as well as a calculated projection of the costs that typical U.S. tertiary-care hospitals would incur through policy reconfiguration and implementation to achieve the UNICEF/World Health Organization Baby-Friendly® Hospital designation and to examine the associated challenges and benefits of becoming a Baby-Friendly Hospital. We analyzed hospital resource utilization, focusing on formula use and staffing profiles at one U.S. urban tertiary-care teaching hospital, as well as conducted an online survey and telephone interviews with a selection of Baby-Friendly Hospitals to obtain their perspective on costs, challenges, and benefits. Findings indicate that added costs for a new Baby-Friendly Hospital will approximate $148 per birth, but these costs sharply decrease over time as breastfeeding rates increase in a Baby-Friendly environment.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)170-175
Number of pages6
JournalBreastfeeding Medicine
Volume8
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Apr 1 2013

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Pediatrics
  • Health Policy
  • Obstetrics and Gynecology
  • Maternity and Midwifery

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