Current trends in infant feeding.
This study examined aspects of newborn feeding in a maternity hospital and also investigated feeding practices during the first 6 months of life. Four hundred and fifty mothers were interviewed while in the maternity hospital. The majority (93%) had booked for their confinement and had attended antenatal clinics regularly. Most had had early contact with the baby at birth and stated that they thought breast-milk was best for the baby. Despite this only 54.6% had given breast-milk as the first feed and only 10% had done so within the first hour. Most mothers (54%) stated that they preferred a timed feeding routine to demand-feeding, while 86% planned to give water between feeds. The majority indicated they would change to formula feeds should they experience problems with breast-feeding. A follow-up visit of 78 mothers 6 months later showed that 50% breast-fed exclusively for 3 - 4 months and 23% for 6 - 7 months. When feeding problems occurred only 27% of the mothers utilised the local authority baby clinic for help. The main reasons given for stopping breast-feeds were insufficient milk, the need for employment and feeding problems. The implications of these findings are discussed.
van der Elst
C W
CW
Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, University of Cape Town.
Pick
W
W
Isaacs
S
S
Malan
A F
AF
D001290:Attitude; D001942:Breast Feeding; D005260:Female; D006771:Hospitals, Maternity; D006801:Humans; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology*; D013019:South Africa; D013997:Time Factors