The impact of mother-to-mother support on optimal breast-feeding: a controlled community intervention trial in peri-urban Guatemala City, Guatemala
Rev. panam. salud pública
;
12(3): 193-201, sept. 2002. ilus, tab, graf
Article
in English
| LILACS
| ID: lil-327415
ABSTRACT
Objective. To assess the impact that a mother-to-mother support program operated by La Leche League Guatemala had on early initiation of breast-feeding and on exclusive breast-feeding in peri-urban Guatemala City, Guatemala. Materials and Methods. A population census was conducted to identify all mothers of infants < 6 months of age, and the mothers were then surveyed on their breast-feeding practices, in two program communities and two control communities. Data collection for this follow-up census and survey was carried out between November 2000 and January 2001, one year after a baseline census and survey had been conducted. Results. At follow-up, 31 percent of mothers in the program communities indicated that counselors had advised them about breast-feeding, 21 percent said they had received a home visit, and 16 percent reported attending a support group. Communitywide rates of early initiation of breast-feeding were significantly higher in program areas than in the control communities, at both baseline and follow-up. However, the change over time in early initiation in program communities was not significantly different from the change in control communities. Communitywide rates of exclusive breast-feeding were similar in program and control sites and did not change significantly from baseline to follow-up. However, of the mothers in the program communities who both received home visits and attended support groups, 45 percent of them exclusively breast-fed, compared to 14 percent of women in program communities who did not participate in those two activities. In addition, women who were exposed to mother-to-mother support activities during the year following the baseline census and survey were more likely than mothers exposed before that period to exclusively breast-feed. This suggests that the program interventions became more effective over time. Conclusions. This study does not provide evidence of population impact of La Leche League's intervention after one year of implementation. In peri-urban Guatemala, long-term community-based interventions, in partnership with existing health care systems, may be needed to improve communitywide exclusive breast-feeding rates
Full text:
Available
Index:
LILACS (Americas)
Main subject:
Social Support
/
Breast Feeding
/
Mothers
Type of study:
Observational study
/
Prognostic study
Limits:
Adult
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Infant
/
Male
/
Infant, Newborn
Country/Region as subject:
Central America
/
Guatemala
Language:
English
Journal:
Rev. panam. salud pública
Journal subject:
Public Health
Year:
2002
Type:
Article
/
Project document
Affiliation country:
Guatemala
/
United States
Institution/Affiliation country:
Academy for Educational Development/US
/
Brigham Young University/US
/
Cincinnati ChildrenÆs Hospital Medical Center/US
/
La Leche League Guatemala/GT
/
University Research Co/US
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