Implementation in Hong Kong
Baby Friendly Initiative in Hong Kong
Breastfeeding and the Family
Breastfeeding and the Community
Training and Events

Since 1992, we conduct survey on local hospitals’ practices of the “Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding” every year. Below is the result of the latest survey (2026) based on the self-appraisal by 18 local hospitals with maternity units.

(Please click here for the previous reports of the annual survey.)

Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding (BF)

(Self-Appraisal by Hospitals)

Remarks:

Public hospitals with maternity unit: 8

Private hospitals with maternity unit: 10

All hospitals gave a response unless “H”, no. of hospitals providing information stated

 

Hospital %
Survey year 2026 2025
Public Private All All
1. Comply with the Code, written infant feeding policy routinely communicated to staff and parents
1.1) With explicit written notice 100 100 100 100
1.2) Infant feeding policy displayed publicly 100 70 83 89
1.3) No free or low-cost supplies of breast-milk substitutes accepted 100 100 100 100
1.4) No promotion of infant foods or drinks other than breast milk 100 90 94 100
1.5) A system in place to monitor the policy 100 80 89 89
2. Ensure staff have knowledge, competence and skills to support BF
2.1) Acquainted with infant feeding policy 100 100 100 100
2.2) 20-hr training given to staff within six months of their arrival 
   2.2a) % of O&G nursing staff 98 89(H:9) 93(H:17) 90
   2.2b) % of Paediatric nursing staff 92 65(H:7) 79(H:15) 79(H:16)
2.3) 8-hr training given to staff within six months of their arrival 
   2.3a) % of O&G doctors 96 87(H:5) 92(H:13) 80(H:13)
   2.3b) % of Paediatric doctors 92 57(H:5) 79(H:13) 77(H:13)
2.4) A system in place to assess staff competency 100 80 89 89
3. Discuss the importance and management of BF with pregnant women and their families
3.1) % of pregnant clients taught 89 90 90 96
3.2) Give group instruction on artificial feeding 0 0 0 6
4. Facilitate immediate and uninterrupted skin-to-skin contact and support mothers to initiate BF after birth
4.1) Vaginal or Caesarean deliveries without general anaesthesia (skin-to-skin) – % of mothers who had skin-to-skin contact within 5 minutes and >1 hour 46 39 42 44
4.2) Caesarean deliveries with general anaesthesia (skin to skin when   mother responsive) – % of mothers 37 14(H:8) 25(H:16) 29(H:17)
5. Support mothers to initiate, maintain breastfeed and manage common difficulties
5.1) Offer breastfeeding assistance within six hours of delivery 100 100 100 100
5.2) Help mothers of babies in special care maintain lactation 100 80 89 94
5.3) Teach BF Mothers on hand expression of breast milk 100 100 100 100
6. Give breastfed newborn only breast milk, unless medically indicated
6.1) Give breastfed newborn no food or fluid other than breast milk 63 50 56 61
6.2) Mothers who decided not to breastfeed were counselled on feeding options and supported in making suitable choices 100 90 94 94
6.3) Mothers who decided not to breastfeed were taught on safe preparation, feeding, and storage of breast-milk substitutes 100 100 100 100
7. Enable mothers and their infants to remain together and to practise rooming-in 24 hours a day
7.1) Mothers and babies with normal vaginal delivery are rooming-in from birth 100 40 67 67
7.2) All mothers and normal babies stayed in the same room day and night 100 40 67 67
7.3) % of mothers and babies separated for medical reasons 41 3 20 20
7.4) There is a nursery for healthy infants 0 100 56 56
7.5) Encourage mothers of preterm babies to stay close to their babies, day and night 100 60 78 94
8. Support mothers to recognize and respond to their infants’ cues for feeding 100 40 67 67
9. Counsel mothers on the use and risks of feeding bottles, teats and pacifiers
9.1) Care for BF babies without using feeding bottles, teats or pacifiers 100 70 83 94
9.2) Teach BF mothers about the risks of using feeding bottles, teats and pacifiers 100 90 94 94
10. Coordinate discharge so that parents and their infants have timely access to ongoing support and care
10.1) Breastfeeding mothers are informed where they can access breastfeeding support in the community 100 100 100 100
10.2) Facilities coordinate with community services that provide breastfeeding/infant feeding support including:
10.2a) clinical management 100 90 94 100
10.2b) mother-to-mother support 100 70 83 61