Breastfeeding Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Breastfeeding, including details on breast feeding benefits, problems, alcohol, diet.

Improving breastfeeding practices on a broad scale at the community level: success stories from Africa and Latin America.

Quinn VJ, Guyon AB, Schubert JW, Stone-Jiménez M, Hainsworth MD, Martin LH

LINKAGES Project, Academy for Educational Development, Washington, DC, USA.

Large-scale community-level behavior change programs designed to improve breastfeeding practices were implemented in Bolivia, Ghana, and Madagascar. These programs reached sizable populations: Bolivia, 1 million; Ghana, 3.5 million; and Madagascar, 6 million. Over 3 to 4 years, timely initiation of breastfeeding (within 1 hour of birth) increased from 56% to 74% (P < .001) in Bolivia, 32% to 40% (P < .05) in Ghana, and 34% to 78% (P < .001) in Madagascar. Marked increases in exclusive breastfeeding of infants 0 to 6 months of age were also documented: from 54% to 65% (P < .001) in Bolivia, 68% to 79% (P < .001) in Ghana, and 46% to 68% (P < .001) in Madagascar. In Ghana and Madagascar, significant results were seen within 1 year of community interventions. The authors conclude that large-scale programs designed to improve breastfeeding practices are feasible and should be a central component of any child survival strategy.

Published 22 August 2005 in J Hum Lact, 21(3): 345-54.
Full-text of this article is available online (may require subscription).

© 2004-2008 Breastfeeding Research Today. All Rights Reserved.