Introduction: The goal of the present study was to assess the performance of the breast-feeding promotion project in Kohkiloyeh and Boyerahmad province.

Methods: Performance of delivery wards in hospitals affiliated with the University of Medical Sciences and with the National Oil Company of Kohkiloyeh and Boyerahmad province was assessed in terms of practicing the ten steps recommended by World Health Organization and United Nations Children's Fund. Ten percent of the mothers who had delivered a child within one month before the time of study conduct (n = 43) and 30% of the delivery wards' personnel (n=137) were selected to participate in the study. Data was collected via observation, interviews, and review of the documentations. The performance of hospitals was calculated based on the percentage of the total expected score, and a score of 90% or above was considered as the acceptable level of performance.

Results: The mean percentage (and standard deviation) of performance scores were 77.42 (and 33.19) for the Oil Company's hospital, 69.64 (and 27.68) for Imam Sajjad hospital, 67.5 (and 32.1) for Imam Khomeini hospital, and 62.97 (and 37.99) for Shahid Rajaei hospital (in decreasing order). These findings show that the hospitals were in a relatively weak position in regard with implementation of the project.

Conclusion: Performance of the baby-friendly hospitals in promotion of breast-feeding behavior of mothers is weak.

 Hakim Research Journal 2008 11(1):54– 61.