OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the compliance to steps 4 to 10 of the Ten Steps Program to Successful Breastfeeding recommended by the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI), created by World Health Organization (WHO). METHODS: Cross-sectional descriptive study of 100 mothers in the immediate post-partum period admitted to both BFHI accredited hospitals in Salvador (Northeast Brazil). Newborns that could not be exclusively breastfed were not included. The mothers were questioned about obstetric history, previous breastfeeding, prenatal care, and aspects related to The Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding. Interviewers used a questionnaire based on the BFHI Global Criteria. At least 80% of the mothers had to satisfactorily answer the questions related to each step in order to consider them complied. Descriptive statistics was used to evaluate the answers. RESULTS: The compliance was unsatisfactory for Step 4 (support to breastfeeding initiation immediately after birth - 58%), Step 5 (exclusive breastfeeding during hospitalization - 77%), and Step 10 (referral of mothers to a breastfeeding support group following discharge from hospital - 5%). Other steps showed a satisfactory result: Step 6 (offer of formula - 19%), Step 7 (practice of rooming-in - 91%) and Step 9 (no pacifiers and bottles use - 100%). CONCLUSIONS: A satisfactory compliance with some aspects of the BFHI Global Criteria was noted, but more discussions about strategies to keep the title of "Baby Friendly Hospital" are needed, since the compliance was poor regarding Steps 4, 5 and 10.
breast feeding; health promotion; milk, human
