OBJECTIVE To determine changes in the breastfeeding practices of mothers after receiving counseling on 'Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding' as defined by the Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative comparing baby friendly hospitals (BFHs) and non-baby-friendly hospitals in Sindh, Pakistan. METHODS The observational study was conducted from June 2007 to June 2009 in randomly selected baby-friendl...

BACKGROUND Despite the importance of early initiation of and exclusive breastfeeding, prelacteal feeds continue to pose a barrier to optimal breastfeeding practices in several countries, including Vietnam. This study examined the factors associated with prelacteal feeding among Vietnamese mothers. METHODS Data from 6068 mother-child (<6 m) dyads were obtained from a cross-sectional survey con...

BACKGROUND Breastfeeding is associated with lower rates of obesity; in addition, it is also associated with later introduction of beverages and foods; however, this has not been well studied among Hispanics. The objective was to assess breastfeeding practices and timing of introduction of beverages and solid foods in a sample of Hispanic infants and their association with weight status. SUBJE...

The health benefits of exclusive breastfeeding are well-known, but the relative detrimental impacts of other foods on infant health are unknown. Because infants in developing countries are fed a wide range of food, quantifying the burden of these diverse feeding practices on infant health is essential for public health policy. We used data from the Demographic Health Survey from 20 developing c...

BACKGROUND Breastfeeding is an important factor in infant health and there have been no previous studies of breastfeeding practices in the different ethnic groups of this region of China. We aimed to compare breastfeeding rates and duration between Han, Uygur and other ethnic groups living in Xinjiang, PR China. METHODS A longitudinal study of infant feeding practices was undertaken using a s...

The importance of breastfeeding as a public health priority has increased as new research reinforces the health benefits to both mother and nursling, even continuing years after weaning. However, many women do not nurse as long as they intend. Birth practices such as labor medications and the routine separation of mother and baby are two of the several intrapartum influences on breastfeeding ou...

OBJECTIVES To assess a group of mothers/newborns with the necessity of special support at the beginning of breastfeeding by means of protocol application recommended by UNICEF and to verify assisting practices associated with difficulties of breastfeeding.\par METHODS In this descriptive study, the sample comprised 50 mother/newborn pairs randomly selected in a maternity where low risk delive...

BACKGROUND Studies evaluating child feeding in Madagascar are scarce despite its importance in child growth during the first two years of life. This study assessed the associations between the WHO infant and young child feeding (IYCF) indicators and stunting and identified determinants of inappropriate child feeding practices. METHODS The most recent Demographic and Health Survey was used inc...

The nu.merous benefits of breastfeeding for both mothers and infants have been widely acknowledged. The bigqtIestion is how well this knowledge on breastfeeding, once upon a time a natural art, is being matched by its actual practice? This will largely depend on ensuring policies and practices that promote, protect and support breast-feeding. Health workers and professionals, which range from p...

BACKGROUND Successive quinquennial National Infant Feeding Surveys have provided a valuable picture of national and regional variations in infant feeding practices within the United Kingdom. Social variation in breastfeeding has been recognised to be an important source of health inequalities in childhood by the Independent Inquiry into Inequalities in Health Report. AIM To determine the prev...