Infant feeding practices are influenced by many factors including culture, household income, literacy, advice from health care workers and advertising. In South India doctors play a very significant role in influencing a mother's decision about when or whether to supplement breastfeeding with formula feeds. Doctors exert their influence on mothers both directly and indirectly, and they are increasingly targeted by commercial infant food companies. Doctors need continuing education about nutrition education, lactation management, and a greater awareness about the influence of inappropriate promotional practices by companies.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
CunninghamASJelliffeDBJelliffeEFP. Breastfeeding and health in the 1980's: a global epidemiologic review. J Pediat118(5):659–66.
2.
GrantJP. The cutting edge. In: AdamsonPAdamsonL, eds. The State Of the World's Children 1984. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1984:29.
3.
HowiePStewart ForsythJOgstonSAClarkAdu V FloreyC. Protective effect of breastfeeding against infection. BMJ, 1990;300:11–16.
4.
LucasAMorleyRColeTJListerGLeeson-PayneC. Breast milk and subsequent intelligence quotient in children born preterm. Lancet1992;339:261–4.
5.
MitchellEAScraggRStewartAW. Results from the first year of the New Zealand cot death study. NZ Med J1991;104:71–6.
6.
NewcombPAStorerBELongneckerMP. Lactation and a reduced risk of pre-menopausal breast cancer. N Engl J Med1994;330:81–7.
7.
Statement of the Standing Committee on Nutrition of the British Paediatric Association. Is breastfeeding beneficial in the UK?Arch Dis Childh1994;71:376–80.
8.
AshrafRNJalilFKhanSR. Early child health in Lahore, Pakistan. V. Feeding patterns. Acta Paediatr1993;(Suppl 390):47–61.
9.
BeekenSWaterstonT. Health service support of breastfeeding - are we practising what we preach?BMJ1992;305:285–7.
10.
WHO. The International Code on the Marketing of Breast-Milk Substitutes. Geneva: World Health Organization, 1981.
11.
International Baby Food Action Network. Breaking the Rules. PO Box 34, Cambridge CB2 3DE, England: IBFAN Secretariat, 1994.
