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Baby Friendly Health Initiative is a World Health Organization (WHO) world wide program that aims at creating a health care environment that supports mothers and babies to have the best start in life.
A health service that has been accredited baby friendly has provided evidence that:
Baby Friendly Health Initiative accredited services must:
BFHI is a quality improvement project and should be considered as part of the facility's total quality management program. BFHI processes can assist to provide evidence for EQuIP 4 Standard 1.1 -Consumers/patients are provided with high quality care throughout the care delivery process.
BFHI is a marketing tool for recruitment and retention of staff. Improved profile of the facility is attained by achieving a global standard developed by the World Health Organization. Accreditation is an opportunity for promotion of the facility within the media.
The Baby Friendly Health Initiative:
Accreditation cost depends on the size of the facility. Current prices can be sourced from BFHI Australia.
Most organisations are surprised by how many BFHI principles they already implement as part of their everyday practice. Many circumstances only require formalising of processes that are already in place.
The Office of the Chief Nursing Officer, Maternity Unit of the Primary, Community and Extended Care branch, Health Promotion Unit and Statewide Maternity and Neonatal Clinical Networks are all progressing work within Queensland Health to provide breastfeeding care to mothers and their families.
Resources to assist services to work towards BFHI accreditation can be found on the Health professionals education and resources page.
The latest list of BFHI accredited facilities in Australia is available from the BFHI Australia website.
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