The impact of Baby Friendly Initiative accreditation: An overview of systematic reviews

Despite its reported benefits, breastfeeding rates are low globally, and support systems such as the Baby Friendly Initiative (BFI) have been established to healthy infant feeding practices bonding. Increasingly reviews being undertaken assess overall impact of BFI accreditation. A systematic synthesis current has therefore carried out examine state literature on effects search CINAHL, MEDLINE, Maternal Infant Health, Scopus, Cochrane Library PROSPERO was undertaken. Study selection, data extraction critical appraisal included using AMSTAR-2 tool were by two authors, with disagreements resolved through discussion third author. Due heterogeneity, a narrative findings applied. Fourteen met inclusion criteria. Overall confidence in results review rated high for three reviews, critically nine reviews. Most evidence suggests some increase initiation, exclusivity duration breastfeeding, one main trial decreased gastrointestinal infection allergic dermatitis infants. However, certainty very across all outcomes due concerns over risk bias within heterogeneity between original studies. More contemporary, good-quality randomised controlled trials or well-controlled prospective comparative cohorts required better evaluate full accreditation, particular attention paid context research long-term maternal health outcomes.