Kauai N. Kennedy, MPH, Gretchen Page, MPH, CNM, Carol Melcher, MPH, RN, and Tahereh Zamansani, BS, MPH. Perinatal Services Network, Loma Linda University Medical Center/Children's Hospital, P.O. Box 2000, 11215 Mountain View Avenue, Suite 179, Loma Linda, CA 92354, 909-558-3364, kkennedy@ahs.llumc.edu

San Bernardino County breastfeeding was well below the Healthy People 2010 goals in 1996. The 2010 goal is 75%, 50%, and 25% breastfeeding in the early postpartum period, at 6 months, and 1 year respectively. Early skin-to-skin between mother and baby facilitates breastfeeding and increases mother-infant interaction. The routine practice of separating mothers and infants immediately after birth in most San Bernardino County hospitals prevents skin-to-skin contact. Perinatal Services Network (PSN) engages 10 hospitals in San Bernardino County in developing support systems to encourage breastfeeding and early infant attachment through policy development, perinatal professional education, post discharge follow-up for mothers via telephone and clinic visits and evaluation. Mothers delivering at these hospitals receive lactation support, education, and information regarding community resources. PSN has added a component to assess duration of breastfeeding with the 3, 6, and 12 month Mother/Baby Survey. Mothers were surveyed between June 2003 and January 2004 to determine current infant feeding, mothers bonding to infants, services most helpful in infant feeding and with becoming a new mother, and reasons why mothers stopped breastfeeding or began supplementing. Our intent was to survey a cohort of mothers at 3, 6, and 12 months, to determine if there was an association between breastfeeding duration and attachment and prolonged breastfeeding duration with provision and utilization of services.

Learning Objectives:

• Recognize the connection of early birth services on long term breastfeeding and attachment behaviors
• List 4 components necessary for hospital systems change
• Identify necessary elements for an effective survey design.
• Develop a feedback mechanism on survey results to target services.

Keywords: Data/Surveillance, Hospitals

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: First 5 San Bernardino
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.