Research Article: The impact of the baby friendly hospital initiative on healthcare utilization among newborns insured by Medicaid in Delaware
Abstract:
The Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative was created to enhance breastfeeding, although its impact on infant healthcare utilization is unclear. Breast feeding infants are vulnerable to readmission soon after birth secondary to dehydration and hyperbilirubinemia. Breastfeeding can also protect infants from unnecessary health care utilization later in life by preventing infection. The objective of this study was to examine the impact of the Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative on readmissions and emergency department utilization among Medicaid births in Delaware.
Introduction:
The medical benefits of breast feeding are clear and well established for both baby and mother. Despite the well-known advantages of providing mother’s milk, breast feeding rates differ by region, race, insurance status and socioeconomic status [1,2,3,4]. Baby Friendly designation and the accompanying Ten Steps to Successful Breast feeding has been used by multiple hospital systems to improve rates of breastfeeding [5, 6] despite some literature suggesting a lack of efficacy for this program in sustaining…
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