Naslov
Analisys of data on breastfeeding in Croatia from 2005 to 2016

Autori
Miloš, Maja ; Rodin, Urelija ; Tješić-Drinković, Duška ; Mujkić, Aida

Izvornik
Medicinski glasnik Ljekarske komore Zeničko- dobojskog kantona (1840-0132) 16 (2019), 2; 195-203

Vrsta, podvrsta i kategorija rada
Radovi u časopisima, članak, znanstveni

Ključne riječi
infant nutrition ; feeding methods ; data collection ; primary health care

Sažetak
Aim: The aim of this paper is to analyse the available breastfeeding data in Croatia from routine (compulsory) public health reports during the period from 2005 to 2016 and to show the trends in breastfeeding. Moreover, the object is to describe the process of gathering, collecting, recording and reporting of breastfeeding data to the official institutions in Croatia. Materials and Methods: Infant nutrition data collected at maternity wards and infant nutrition data from primary health care units (paediatrics and family medicine) during the period from 2005 to 2016 have been used. Descriptive statistics have been used to analyse the data and to show the trends in breastfeeding. Results: According to the breastfeeding data from Croatian maternity wards, more than 85% of newborn infants were exclusively breastfed. After 2013 there was a significant decrease in exclusive breastfeeding to less than 80%. In the same period, the proportion of newborns on mixed feeding (combining breastfeeding and bottle feeding) rose (10% in 2012), but in the period from 2013 to 2015 there was an increase from 13.3% to 17.7%. From 2013 the proportion of unknown breastfeeding data rose from an average of 1.5% between 2005 and 2012 to 2.2% - 2.8% during the period from 2013 to 2015. The proportion of infants fed with formula was continuously below 2%. When it comes to data on breastfeeding from primary health care, we can mainly see growth in exclusive breastfeeding up to 2011, followed by a fall in 2013. From 2012 paediatric teams had the obligation to join the Croatian Central Healthcare Information System of the Republic of Croatia (CEZIH), but electronic messages do not contain infant nutrition information, or most other indicators of systematic examinations. Manually recorded breastfeeding records and other public health indicators obtained from systematic examinations from 2013 are no longer a reliable source of information because paediatricians do not provide breastfeeding data for about 30% of infants covered by systematic examinations. Conclusion: The routinely collected data on breastfeeding do not allow us to draw any conclusion regarding the breastfeeding trends in the Republic of Croatia. The reasons for this lies in in the different definitions applied, as well as the problems in collecting routine health statistical data on breastfeeding from primary health care it after joined the Central Healthcare Information System of the Republic of Croatia (CEZIH), especially since the proportion of unknown data in the primary health care records increased. Therefore, it is impossible to evaluate the implementation of breastfeeding measures promoted by the National Program for the Protection and Promotion of Breastfeeding because there is no obligation to provide indicators of their implementation or outcome. In order to improve the process of collecting, recording and reporting breastfeeding data, the WHO definitions of breastfeeding should be applied. Furthermore, the national health information system should provide for precise recording and documenting on both levels, in maternity wards and primary health care, as well as to ensure the delivery of these data for monitoring and evaluating breastfeeding practices. Beside the evaluation of breastfeeding practices according to routine health statistics reports, it is necessary to evaluate programs which promote and support breastfeeding by non- governmental organizations. It is necessary to analyse how far their interventions have been successful and how to plan and implement those interventions for further action.

Izvorni jezik
Engleski

Znanstvena područja
Javno zdravstvo i zdravstvena zaštita

POVEZANOST RADA