OBJECTIVES: to assess compliance of the "Ten Steps towards Maternal Breast-Feeding Success" in "Child Friendly Hospitals" (CFH) in Brazil. METHODS: assessment of the 10 steps of CFH was accomplished in 1999 and 2000 by evaluators of the CFH Initiative, accredited by the Ministry of Health through the pre-assessment form CFHI form. RESULTS: one hundred and thirty seven CFH questionnaires of 152 of accredited Child Friendly Hospitals were analized and 92% of them met all of the "Ten Steps..." Steps one, three, seven, eight and nine had compliance rates of over 98%. Step five was the least observed. Comparing the regions of the country, it was noted that in the Northeast, South and Southeast, 90% of the hospitals were approved in all of the "Ten Steps..." In the Northern region, only 50% of the hospitals complied with all of the "Ten Steps..." CONCLUSIONS: analysis of the general data sheet of the hospitals with shortcomings in the assessment of the steps, indicated that 73,7% had been accredited before 1997 which is suggestive of the need of periodic evaluations. The implementation of a monitoring system for this type of institution will contribute to improve service quality and rates of breastfeeding in the country.
Evaluation; Hospitals; Breast feeding
