Exploration of knowledge and challenges in the implementation of the mother-baby friendly initiative at standerton hospital, Mpumalanga Province, South Africa

Abstract

Background: The Mother baby friendly initiative (MBFI) is an initiative that was launched in 1991 as a global programme to create an environment that enables and supports women to breastfeed their infants, providing advice to mothers and practical assistance to promote breastfeeding. This initiative plays an important role in improving infant’s nutritional status, growth, development and health for both mother and infant and supports exclusive breastfeeding. MBFI aims at increasing breastfeeding rate by supporting, protecting and promoting breastfeeding in health facilities. Aim: of the study is to explore the knowledge and challenges related to the implementation of the mother-baby friendly initiative at Standerton hospital. Method: A qualitative descriptive design was used to explore the knowledge and challenges related to the implementation of the mother-baby friendly initiative at selected hospital. Purposive sampling of the healthcare providers were the target population for the study as they are responsible for the implementation of MBFI in the hospital. In this research, data collected were in a form of interviews, audiotapes and written notes from interviews. Tesch’s eight steps in data analysis was used to analyse data. Results: The studies key theme and sub theme give the study’s findings and perspective of the issues found. The studies key theme were: 1. Knowledge of participants on MBFI at Standerton hospital, 2. Views about current practices of MBFI at Standerton –hospital and 3. Challenges regarding MBFI implementation at Standerton. MBFI was considered significant in the facility, however, due to inconsistences and challenges faced by the nurses the initiative was not fully implemented to improve breastfeeding rates.

Conclusion: the study conclude that nurse’s had some knowledge on the MBFI initiative as they understood their role in breastfeeding advocacy and enhancing maternal and child health. There were significant challenges in MBFI implementation such as shortage of staff, lack of resources and training that hindered MBFI compliance and mothers not receiving the full benefits of the initiative, which contribute to decreased breastfeeding rates within the facility.