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The natural practice of breastfeeding has been strongly noted as one of the most cost-effective, health promoting, disease-prevention strategies of the 21st century. Although primary health organizations recommend exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months of life with added complementary foods and continued breastfeeding up to 2 years of age or longer, many mothers do not breastfeed their infants for the recommendation length of time. Applied policies and health practices, such as those described under the 10 Steps to Successful Breastfeeding and The International Code of Marketing of Breast Milk Substitutes, have been noted as contributing factors that can considerably impact the manner which women choose to feed their infants. A cross-sectional methodology assessed associations between maternity health practices and breastfeeding duration among women birthing in the United States. A secondary data analysis of the Infant Feeding Practice Study II and its Year 6 Follow-Up was conducted using IBM SPSS Statistics Version 24. Procedures for data analysis included frequencies, Ï?2 tests, and ordinal logistic regressions. Outcomes revealed that feeding infants any formula during their hospital stay drastically reduces the likelihood for prolonged breastfeeding duration. Study results also concluded that offering a pacifier to infants during their hospital stay reduced the length of breastfeeding duration. This study confirms many of the primary breastfeeding practices that are at the frontline of maternity patient care in the United States. Establishing well-grounded practices that aid in the long-term duration of breastfeeding could help save lives and improve child and maternal health outcomes within the United States.

The purpose of this study was to conduct evaluation research on the implementation of the Baby and Mother Friendly Initiative in Namibia in order to identify its successes and failures, as well as to develop guidelines for the strengthening of the programme. An evaluation research design using a sequential mixed-methods approach to collect qualitative and quantitative data was conducted. In phase 1, qualitative data were collected through face-to-face interviews. Participants were the chief health programme officer for nutrition at national level and nurse managers in charge of the baby and mother friendly hospitals. In phase 2, quantitative data were collected from 391 registered and enrolled nurses/midwives working in the baby and mother friendly hospitals through a self-administered questionnaire. Both phases 1 and 2 indicated partial implementation of the Baby and Mother Friendly Initiative programme. Factors influencing the implementation positively or negatively were identified. The integrated findings formed the basis of guidelines to strengthen the programme. Nine guidelines were developed and validated. / Health Studies / D.Litt. et Phil. (Health Studies)