Hospital practices and duration of breast feeding: meta-analysis

Clinical trials studying the influence of hospital practices on breast-feeding duration were combined in a meta-analysis. Nine studies were selected. The global quality score was poor, and varied between 11.6 and 71.5 (Chalmers' scale). The results of each study were pooled using Peto's method and showed the following findings. Supplementation demonstrated a negative clinical effect on breast-feeding duration which was not significant (OR: 0.77, 95% CI[0.59, 1.02] p greater than 0.05). Nursing support demonstrated a positive clinical effect on breast-feeding duration which was not statistically significant if there was no telephone follow-up (OR : 2.29, 95% CI [0.87, 6.02] p greater than 0.05), but was significant if there was telephone follow-up (OR : 2.01, 95% CI [1.37, 2.94] p less than 0.05). Early contact revealed a positive clinical effect which was significant (OR : 2.96, 95% CI [1.6, 5.22] p less than 0.05). In conclusion, early contact and nursing support with telephone follow-up appear as enhancing factors of breast-feeding duration.