Improving Breastfeeding Behaviors: Evidence from Two Decades of Intervention Research.

N

73

Agency for International Development (IDCA), Washington, DC. Office of Nutrition.

Breastfeeding; Developing Nations; Early Intervention; Females; Foreign Countries; Health Behavior; Hospitals; Infant Care; Mass Media; Peer Counseling; Prenatal Care; Program Effectiveness; Public Policy; Social Support Groups

Armenia; Bangladesh; Brazil; Chile; Ghana; Guatemala; Honduras; India; Indonesia; Jordan; Kenya; Mali; Mexico; Nicaragua; Norway; Panama; Peru; Philippines; South Africa; Sweden; Turkey; United Kingdom (Scotland)

This report summarizes research on interventions intended to improve four key breastfeeding behaviors: early initiation of breastfeeding, feeding of colostrum to newborns, exclusive breastfeeding for the first 0-6 months, and continued breastfeeding through the second year and beyond. It clarifies what is known about improving these practices in order to guide program planners and managers. Over 50 studies worldwide were identified that had an intervention designed to influence one of the four behaviors and reported data on one or more of those behaviors. Results indicated that only 1 of the 51 studies examined the impact of national policy changes, and few examined the impact of prenatal education in isolation from other interventions. Some results suggested that prenatal education, when combined with other interventions (e.g., training of health providers and access to outpatient breastfeeding support clinics) related to improved breastfeeding practices. Many studies documented the impact of changing hospital practices, noting that counseling and discharge packs supporting breastfeeding, and training of hospital staff in lactation management, dramatically impacted exclusive breastfeeding rates. Most studies suggested that peer counseling and social support positively impacted initiation of breastfeeding, giving of colostrum, and exclusive breastfeeding. Evidence regarding the impact of postpartum counseling and guidance by health workers was mixed. An appendix presents detailed tables on interventions to improve breastfeeding behaviors. (Contains 115 references.) (SM)

2004

ED479270