Effectiveness of Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative on Early Initiation and Exclusive Breastfeeding Practice: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

ABSTRACT: Background: The Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI) promotes, protects, and supports optimal breastfeeding through facility-based strategies. While prior studies have examined individual BFHI components in specific contexts, global evidence on its overall impact remains limited. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the BFHI's effectiveness in improving early initiation and exclusive breastfeeding practices worldwide. Methods: A comprehensive search was conducted in PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and Google for English-language studies. Eligible studies included randomized controlled trials (RCTs), cluster RCTs, and quasi-experimental designs assessing BFHI's effect on breastfeeding outcomes. Random-effects meta-analysis models were used to estimate

SUBMITTER: Habte MB 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12300584 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature