The Effects of Rooming-in on the Success of Breastfeeding and the Decline in Abandonment of Children

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Abstract
This study analyzed the effect of management of rooming-in, conducted in one of the regional hospitals in Thailand, on the success of breastfeeding. Data based on 2, 000 infants born in 1987 and 1990 showed a significant improvement on separation time of infant and mother after delivery and predominant breastfeeding, where the infant's predominant source of nourishment has been breastmilk. Separation time was reduced from 6.3 ± 3.2 to 1.62 ± 0.42 hours and predominant breastfeeding was significantly increased from 85 to 99 percent. Data obtained from the community related to the initiation and predominant breastfeedings showed a significant increase (p<0.05). No significant difference was demonstrated, however, on current breastfeeding among infants who were delivery before and after initiation of the rooming-in system. Also analyzed were data on prevalence of deserted children. The findings showed a progressive reduction of deserted children after management of rooming-in. The study concludes that the practices of obstetricians were a key to successful breastfeeding. Promotion and management of rooming-in significantly improves the success of breastfeeding and reduction of deserted children in the hospital.