Using the Hospital Self Appraisal Tool to Review Policies and Practices
Any hospital or health facility that is interested in receiving a Certificate of Intent to Support the Principles of the Global Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative should—as a first step—appraise its current practices in relation to the Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding.
The checklist that follows will permit a hospital, birthing center, or other health facility giving maternity care to make a quick initial appraisal or review of its practices in support of breastfeeding. Completion of this initial self-review form is the first stage of the process of meeting the requirements to receive a Certificate of Intent from the U. S. Committee for UNICEF.
Hospitals are encouraged to bring their key management and clinical staff together to review the Self-Appraisal Tool and develop a plan of action based on the results of the self-appraisal. Suggestions for specific action for an in-house group of hospital management and clinical staff are to establish 1) a written breastfeeding policy, 2) a written curriculum for any training in lactation management given to hospital staff caring for mothers and babies, 3) a written outline of the content to be covered in antenatal health education about breastfeeding. Existence of such written documents provides evidence of on-going institutional commitment to breastfeeding and ensures continued promotion even with changes in staff. Consultation with the U. S. Committee for UNICEF can provide more information on policies and training that will contribute to increasing the Baby-Friendliness of health facilities.
Please click the link below to download a printer-friendly copy of the Hospital Self-Appraisal Form in Adobe Acrobat Reader (pdf) format:
For more information contact:
Baby-Friendly USA
8 Jan Sebastian Way #22
Sandwich, MA 02563
508-888-8092
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