Nurturing New Beginnings: A Quality Improvement Journey to Enhance Early Breastfeeding Initiation rates

Introduction:The World Health Organisation (WHO) has universally recognized breastfeeding as the best way to give newborns the nutrients they need for healthy growth and development, especially during the first six months of life. Even with this acknowledgment, the world's rates of the early st...

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Main Authors: Smriti Anand, Pushpa Dahiya, Shikha Madan, sonia Dahiya
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Mashhad University of Medical Sciences 2024-07-01
Series:Patient Safety and Quality Improvement Journal
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Online Access:https://psj.mums.ac.ir/article_24995_bdff147a4160f28b5427c345c8637a61.pdf
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author Smriti Anand
Pushpa Dahiya
Shikha Madan
sonia Dahiya
author_facet Smriti Anand
Pushpa Dahiya
Shikha Madan
sonia Dahiya
author_sort Smriti Anand
collection DOAJ
description Introduction:The World Health Organisation (WHO) has universally recognized breastfeeding as the best way to give newborns the nutrients they need for healthy growth and development, especially during the first six months of life. Even with this acknowledgment, the world's rates of the early start of breastfeeding (EIBF) are still below optimal levels, which has a substantial impact on the mortality rates of newborns. The objective of our study was to address the challenge of low EIBF rates among neonates delivered vaginally through a rigorous quality improvement process. Materials and Methods: A quality improvement study was conducted over six months at Pt B.D. Sharma PGIMS, Rohtak. The study involved postnatal mothers vaginally delivering neonates above 34 weeks gestation. A multidisciplinary team employed the Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) methodology to address barriers to EIBF systematically. Baseline EIBF rates were measured, obstacles were identified through process mapping and analysis, and change ideas were iteratively tested. Results: Initial assessments revealed a baseline EIBF rate of 0%. Through successive PDSA cycles, policy gaps, procedural inefficiencies, staffing constraints, and facility limitations were systematically identified and addressed. Interventions included immediate breastfeeding initiation in the delivery room and targeted staff education. Over the study period, EIBF rates significantly improved, reaching an average of 85%. Conclusion: This study shows that EIBF rates among newborns delivered vaginally can be greatly increased with the use of a systematic quality improvement approach. Barriers to EIBF were successfully reduced through iterative PDSA cycles and the involvement of important stakeholders, resulting in long-lasting practice changes. The results highlight the benefits of early breastfeeding initiation for the health of both mothers and babies, as well as the possible influence of focused interventions on medical procedures.
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spelling doaj-art-c736a382dd2d426bb0579509ac2009252025-08-20T03:58:44ZengMashhad University of Medical SciencesPatient Safety and Quality Improvement Journal2345-44822345-44902024-07-0112313514310.22038/psj.2024.78064.142424995Nurturing New Beginnings: A Quality Improvement Journey to Enhance Early Breastfeeding Initiation ratesSmriti Anand0Pushpa Dahiya1Shikha Madan2sonia Dahiya3Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Pt B.D Sharma PGIMS RohtakDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Pt B.D Sharma PGIMS RohtakDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Pt B.D Sharma PGIMS RohtakDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Pt B.D Sharma PGIMS RohtakIntroduction:The World Health Organisation (WHO) has universally recognized breastfeeding as the best way to give newborns the nutrients they need for healthy growth and development, especially during the first six months of life. Even with this acknowledgment, the world's rates of the early start of breastfeeding (EIBF) are still below optimal levels, which has a substantial impact on the mortality rates of newborns. The objective of our study was to address the challenge of low EIBF rates among neonates delivered vaginally through a rigorous quality improvement process. Materials and Methods: A quality improvement study was conducted over six months at Pt B.D. Sharma PGIMS, Rohtak. The study involved postnatal mothers vaginally delivering neonates above 34 weeks gestation. A multidisciplinary team employed the Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) methodology to address barriers to EIBF systematically. Baseline EIBF rates were measured, obstacles were identified through process mapping and analysis, and change ideas were iteratively tested. Results: Initial assessments revealed a baseline EIBF rate of 0%. Through successive PDSA cycles, policy gaps, procedural inefficiencies, staffing constraints, and facility limitations were systematically identified and addressed. Interventions included immediate breastfeeding initiation in the delivery room and targeted staff education. Over the study period, EIBF rates significantly improved, reaching an average of 85%. Conclusion: This study shows that EIBF rates among newborns delivered vaginally can be greatly increased with the use of a systematic quality improvement approach. Barriers to EIBF were successfully reduced through iterative PDSA cycles and the involvement of important stakeholders, resulting in long-lasting practice changes. The results highlight the benefits of early breastfeeding initiation for the health of both mothers and babies, as well as the possible influence of focused interventions on medical procedures.https://psj.mums.ac.ir/article_24995_bdff147a4160f28b5427c345c8637a61.pdfbreast milkcolostrumquality improvementearly breastfeeding initiationpdsa cycle
spellingShingle Smriti Anand
Pushpa Dahiya
Shikha Madan
sonia Dahiya
Nurturing New Beginnings: A Quality Improvement Journey to Enhance Early Breastfeeding Initiation rates
Patient Safety and Quality Improvement Journal
breast milk
colostrum
quality improvement
early breastfeeding initiation
pdsa cycle
title Nurturing New Beginnings: A Quality Improvement Journey to Enhance Early Breastfeeding Initiation rates
title_full Nurturing New Beginnings: A Quality Improvement Journey to Enhance Early Breastfeeding Initiation rates
title_fullStr Nurturing New Beginnings: A Quality Improvement Journey to Enhance Early Breastfeeding Initiation rates
title_full_unstemmed Nurturing New Beginnings: A Quality Improvement Journey to Enhance Early Breastfeeding Initiation rates
title_short Nurturing New Beginnings: A Quality Improvement Journey to Enhance Early Breastfeeding Initiation rates
title_sort nurturing new beginnings a quality improvement journey to enhance early breastfeeding initiation rates
topic breast milk
colostrum
quality improvement
early breastfeeding initiation
pdsa cycle
url https://psj.mums.ac.ir/article_24995_bdff147a4160f28b5427c345c8637a61.pdf
work_keys_str_mv AT smritianand nurturingnewbeginningsaqualityimprovementjourneytoenhanceearlybreastfeedinginitiationrates
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AT shikhamadan nurturingnewbeginningsaqualityimprovementjourneytoenhanceearlybreastfeedinginitiationrates
AT soniadahiya nurturingnewbeginningsaqualityimprovementjourneytoenhanceearlybreastfeedinginitiationrates