An educational intervention on promotion of breast feeding.

ABSTRACT

PIP: Between August 1986-December 1988, researchers enrolled at least 941 primiparous women infant pairs at a social security obstetric hospital in Instanbul, Turkey into a study intended to examine an educational model to promote exclusive breast feeding. Neither changes in hospital routine nor a continuing support program accompanied the short term intervention. Cases watched a video on oral rehydration therapy and domestic hygiene geared toward diarrhea prevention while in the hospital. They also watched a video on breast feeding followed by a discussion on breast feeding. On days 5-7, health students made home visits to discuss breast feeding and left a booklet on breast feeding. The controls only watched the film on diarrhea. Their home visits on days 5-7 centered on domestic hygiene and baby care. Health students visited each subject once a month for 6 months. Most mothers intended to breast feed (83.2%). More educated mothers (88%) originally planned to breast feed their infants than mothers with limited (81.5%) or no education (69.7%; p.01). By the end of the 1st week, only 47.1% of the cases and 12.4% of the controls were exclusively breast feeding. Supplements consisted on nonmilk liquids. Many mothers stated that they did not produce enough milk so they had to supplement. MOreover the number of cases exclusively breast feeding fell dramatically so that by the 3rd month almost no mother infant pairs practiced exclusive breast feeding. Still cases were significantly more likely to breast feed in the 1st 2 months than controls. Despite little change in behavior, most case mothers felt that the educational session influenced them and they learned the breast is best. In conclusion, the main obstacle was insufficient up to date information available to mothers, relatives, and health personnel.