Use of cross-sectional design for determining Baby-Friendly success

The publication by Bass, Gartley, and Kleinman relating breastfeeding rates and Baby-Friendly penetration among states found no correlation, and concluded that the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI) has been unsuccessful in improving US breastfeeding rates.1 However, we suggest that such a conclusion is incorrect because a cross-sectional study design cannot determine the effectiveness of an intervention. This goal is best accomplished using a randomized control trial, such as PROBIT, which showed a marked improvement in exclusive breastfeeding rates at 3 and 6  months.

Source: The Journal of Pediatrics - January 23, 2020 Category: Pediatrics Authors: Lori Feldman-Winter, Melissa Bartick Tags: Letter to the Editor Source Type: research