[Twelve years of the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative in Brazil].

Objective: To evaluate implementation of the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI) in Brazil from 1992 to 2004.

Methods: This retrospective descriptive study of the BFHI in Brazil examined the number of Baby-Friendly Hospitals (BFH) accredited per year from 1992 to 2004, state and regional distribution of the hospitals, the number of municipalities with a BFH, and the number of births at the 294 BFH that were participating in Brazil's universal, public health care system (Serviço Unico de Saúde) in 2004. Data were obtained from the Ministry of Health's Hospital Information System, from state health departments, and from Ministry of Health's reports on breastfeeding.

Reassessment of Baby-friendly Hospitals in Brazil.

The purpose of this descriptive, cross-sectional study was to assess adherence to the Baby-friendly Hospital Initiative "Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding" in certified hospitals in Brazil in 2002. The Ministry of Health ordered that all 172 hospitals certified from 1992 to 2000 be reassessed. Of the 167 eligible Baby-friendly Hospitals assessed, 137 (82%) met all of the 10 steps.

[Advances in the Brazilian norm for commercialization of infant foods].

Objective: To assess the advances in the Brazilian norm for commercialization of infant foods from 1988 to 2002, comparing the different texts with each other and with the International Code of Marketing of Breast-Milk Substitutes.

Methods: This was a descriptive study based on data collected from documents, reports, ordinances and resolutions from the Brazilian Ministry of Health. The versions utilized in the comparison were from 1992 and 2002.