An historical document analysis of the introduction of the Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative into the Australian setting

Atchan, M; Davis, D; Foureur, M

An historical document analysis of the introduction of the Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative into the Australian setting

Atchan, M

Davis, D

Foureur, M

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Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: Women and Birth, 2017, 30 (1), pp. 51 - 62
Issue Date:: 2017-02-01

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Atchan, M https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2386-8457	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Davis, D https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2041-1064	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Foureur, M https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0454-0165	en_US
dc.date.available	2020-05-25T19:12:35Z
dc.date.issued	2017-02-01	en_US
dc.identifier.citation	Women and Birth, 2017, 30 (1), pp. 51 - 62	en_US
dc.identifier.issn	1871-5192	en_US
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/63181
dc.description.abstract	© 2016 Australian College of Midwives Background Breastfeeding has many known benefits yet its support across Australian health systems was suboptimal throughout the 20th Century. The World Health Organization launched a global health promotion strategy to help create a ‘breastfeeding culture’. Research on the programme has revealed multiple barriers since implementation. Aim To analyse the sociopolitical challenges associated with implementing a global programme into a national setting via an examination of the influences on the early period of implementation of the Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative in Australia. Methods A focused historical document analysis was attended as part of an instrumental case study. A purposeful sampling strategy obtained a comprehensive sample of public and private documents related to the introduction of the BFHI in Australia. Analysis was informed by a ‘documents as commentary’ approach to gain insight into individual and collective social practices not otherwise observable. Findings Four major themes were identified: “a breastfeeding culture”; “resource implications”; “ambivalent support for breastfeeding and the BFHI” and “business versus advocacy”. “A breastfeeding culture” included several subthemes. No tangible support for breastfeeding generally, or the Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative specifically, was identified. Australian policy did not follow international recommendations. There were no financial or policy incentives for BFHI implementation. Conclusions Key stakeholders’ decisions negatively impacted on the Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative at a crucial time in its implementation in Australia. The potential impact of the programme was not realised, representing a missed opportunity to establish and provide sustainable standardised breastfeeding support to Australian women and their families.	en_US
dc.relation.ispartof	Women and Birth	en_US
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.1016/j.wombi.2016.07.004	en_US
dc.subject.classification	Obstetrics & Reproductive Medicine	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Humans	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Postnatal Care	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Breast Feeding	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Pregnancy	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Organizational Policy	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Infant	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Infant, Newborn	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Hospitals	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Health Promotion	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	World Health Organization	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Australia	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Female	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Practice Guidelines as Topic	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Translational Medical Research	en_US
dc.title	An historical document analysis of the introduction of the Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative into the Australian setting	en_US
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	1	en_US
utslib.citation.volume	30	en_US
utslib.for	1110 Nursing	en_US
utslib.for	11 Medical and Health Sciences	en_US
pubs.embargo.period	Not known	en_US
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Health
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Health/Midwifery
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Strength - CHSP - Health Services and Practice
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Students
utslib.copyright.status	open_access
pubs.issue	1	en_US
pubs.publication-status	Published	en_US
pubs.volume	30	en_US

Abstract:

© 2016 Australian College of Midwives Background Breastfeeding has many known benefits yet its support across Australian health systems was suboptimal throughout the 20th Century. The World Health Organization launched a global health promotion strategy to help create a ‘breastfeeding culture’. Research on the programme has revealed multiple barriers since implementation. Aim To analyse the sociopolitical challenges associated with implementing a global programme into a national setting via an examination of the influences on the early period of implementation of the Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative in Australia. Methods A focused historical document analysis was attended as part of an instrumental case study. A purposeful sampling strategy obtained a comprehensive sample of public and private documents related to the introduction of the BFHI in Australia. Analysis was informed by a ‘documents as commentary’ approach to gain insight into individual and collective social practices not otherwise observable. Findings Four major themes were identified: “a breastfeeding culture”; “resource implications”; “ambivalent support for breastfeeding and the BFHI” and “business versus advocacy”. “A breastfeeding culture” included several subthemes. No tangible support for breastfeeding generally, or the Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative specifically, was identified. Australian policy did not follow international recommendations. There were no financial or policy incentives for BFHI implementation. Conclusions Key stakeholders’ decisions negatively impacted on the Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative at a crucial time in its implementation in Australia. The potential impact of the programme was not realised, representing a missed opportunity to establish and provide sustainable standardised breastfeeding support to Australian women and their families.

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http://hdl.handle.net/10453/63181