Breastfeeding promotion--is its effectiveness supported by scientific evidence and global changes in breastfeeding behaviors?
Lutter, C.K.
Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology 478: 355-368
2000
ISSN/ISBN: 0065-2598 PMID: 11065085 Document Number: 260
The effectiveness of breastfeeding promotion is supported by scientific research and is a likely explanation for global changes in behavior. Because in the developing world the vast majority of women initiate breastfeeding and continue to breastfeed, future efforts to promote breastfeeding should focus on the behavior of exclusive breastfeeding for maximum health impact. To extend the duration of exclusive breastfeeding, the timing of the intervention is critical. Women must be reached early during the prenatal period, supported at birth, and within the first month post-partum when breastfeeding problems and the shift from exclusive to partial breastfeeding are most likely to occur. The challenge ahead is to implement infant feeding counseling and support in health services and community-based programs. Research is needed to answer questions such as what is the most cost-effective methods of training and the number and timing of visits? What are the most important messages for a mother to have and how are they best delivered to her? It is also necessary to start thinking and acting on the concept of infant feeding promotion and include complementary feeding as well as breastfeeding in promotion activities. Research must emphasize not only the efficacy and effectiveness of the promotion of optimal infant feeding behaviors on infant health, but also its cost-effectiveness. It is necessary to involve health economists in future research. Lastly, to ensure that the numerous benefits of human milk and breastfeeding on infant survival, health, and development are achieved, the potential synergies between research and the implementation and evaluation of interventions based on this research must be realized. To do this not only requires sound scientific research, but also the linking of this research to the science of public health intervention and the development of creative methodologies to evaluate multi-faceted interventions. This requires that the same level of scientific rigor, creativity, and investment that has been brought to the science of human milk and breastfeeding also be brought to the science and art of promoting optimal infant feeding behaviors.
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