63. UNICEF. Newborn Feeding Practices in Birthing Facilities in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. UNICEF, Jerusalem, 1993, 61 pp.

A rapid appraisal of 28 maternity facilities in the West Bank and Gaza Strip was carried out during 1992 to investigate policies related to infant feeding. Interviews with managers of all maternity facilities were carried out with concentration on newborn feeding policies and practices. Interviews were also carried out with 61 mothers in twenty-six maternity facilities.

Results concerning organizational policies include:

- Fifty percent of the organizations reported having some kind of policy concerning newborn feeding and the rest reported no policy of any kind; however 79% reported that they encouraged breast feeding
- Twenty-nine percent of organizations said that the baby was placed on the mother's breast immediately after birth, twenty-nine percent said that the baby was taken to the nursery immediately after delivery.
- Seventy-eight percent reported having given prelacteal feeds prior to initiating breast feeding. The most common prelacteal feed was glucose water usually given by bottle.
- Forty-three percent of organizations reported giving additional fluids including milk, glucose water, sterile water and others.
- Fifty percent had no policy on pacifiers.
- Thirty-nine percent reported giving written material to mothers.
- Eighty-six percent of organizations reported not distributing milk to mothers in hospital.
- Ninety-six percent provided individual assistance for breast feeding, primarily from nurses or midwives.

Results concerning mothers' experience include:

- Of the 43 mothers who had breast fed their babies at least once, 16% had fed with the support of a nurse, 42% were helped by relatives and 32% did not receive any help.
- Fifty-seven percent of mothers said they had been encouraged to breast feed in some way by hospital staff.
- Eighteen of the breast feeding mothers reported some kind of problem with feeding.
- Sixty-four percent of mothers reported that their babies had received fluids other than breast milk.
- Thirteen percent reported receiving specific advice on feeding while in hospital.
- Except for one organization, none of the mothers had received written health education materials.
- Only one mother reported receiving milk supplies from the hospital.