Breastfeeding in the Czech Republic in 2020

Czech version

Authors: M. Dokoupilová
Authors‘ workplace: Novorozenecké oddělení, Nemocnice Hořovice
Published in: Čes-slov Neonat 2022; 28 (2): 108-111.
Category: Reviews

Overview

Objective: To evaluate the breastfeeding support and the number of breastfed infants discharged from the Czech maternity hospitals.

Design, setting: This retrospective questionnaire data analysis was conducted in the year of 2020. The questionnaire was sent to all maternity hospitals in the Czech Republic. Data from 87 maternity hospitals were included in the analysis.

Primary outcome: The number of exclusively breastfed infants, breastfed and formula fed infants and formula-only fed infants in the Czech maternity hospitals at the time of discharge from the maternity hospitals and the assessment of provided breastfeeding support. The Baby friendly hospital initiative certification was considered.

Results: In the year 2020, a total number of 108 952 infants were born. 81 % infants were fully breastfed, 15 % were supplemented with formula and 4% of infants were only formula fed at the time of discharge from maternity hospital. 67 % maternity hospitals have BFHI certification. However, these maternity hospitals do not show better results in terms of exclusive breastfeeding or breastfeeding support.

Conclusion: The number of exclusively breastfed infants in the Czech Republic has been on a downward trend during the last 20 years. BFHI certification does not improve breastfeeding rate.

Keywords:

breastfeeding – support of breastfeeding – BFHI

Sources

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