Meeting the challenge: implementing the Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative in a culturally diverse country.

This paper describes the successful implementation of the WHO/Unicef Baby Friendly Hospital initiative (BFHI) in a large, culturally diverse hospital in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Breastfeeding rates in the UAE are high (>90 per cent), although mixed feeding is considered the norm. Traditional religious practices for birth are common which may inhibit exclusive breastfeeding.