Evaluation of breastfeeding practices at the Conception maternity hospital in Marseille, France

Abstract

Context & objective. Breast milk is the reference food for newborns. The objective of the present study was to describe breastfeeding practices observed at the Conception Maternity Hospital in Marseille, France, with a view to optimizing neonatal care, in accordance with the recommendations of the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI). Methods. This was a descriptive cross-sectional study conducted from June to August 2022 among 219 mothers at the time of hospital discharge. Data were analyzed using Excel 2021. Results are presented as frequencies, means, and standard deviations. Results. The mean age of mothers was 30 ± 5 years. Breastfeeding was initiated within the first hour after birth in 63.9% of newborns, and skin-to-skin contact was practiced in 52% of cases. Over 62% of newborns received supplemental feeding, of which only 7% were medically justified. At discharge, 70.3% of mothers were still exclusively breastfeeding. Conclusion. The study reveals a positive trend toward compliance with BFHI standards, particularly regarding early initiation, skin-to-skin contact, and reduced use of supplements. The implementation of these recommendations represents a strong lever for promoting exclusive breastfeeding. Received: April 14th, 2025 Accepted: June 14th, 2025 https://dx.doi.org/10.4314/aamed.v18i4.11