title: [To what extent is breast feeding practiced in Italy today?].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  During a survey regarding infant health in 7 regions, diffusion and length of time of breast-feeding nowadays in Italy were studied.
  
  
  METHODS
  By OMS Epi methodology, 210 children sampled from each area of study and specialized health workers carried out the interviews at home using a specific questionnaire. The mothers were questioned about the length of time they breast fed their child.
  
  
  RESULTS
  76% of mothers said they breastfed, 32% said they did it for less than 3 months and 44% for more. In each area, the percentage of breastfeeding was 70% or more. This percentage changed only if the birth weight was very low or the mothers' instruction was high, but this is probably because the most cultured mothers answered easier they breast fed longer.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It seems that mothers are pro-breastfeeding and, in each region, just a quarter of them don't practise it. Besides, about half women breastfed for more than 3 months. This study doesn't permit us to know why some women don't breastfeed or why they wean their children too early. For this reason, we need to curry out further studies.
authors.affiliation: Osservatorio Epidemiologico Regione Molise.
authors.forename: T M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Manfredi Selvaggi
authors.forename: A E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Tozzi
authors.forename: M P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Carrieri
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Binkin
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lo Monaco
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: D'Errico
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Filippetti
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: D'Argenio
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cafaro
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Salmaso
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001722:Birth Order; D001724:Birth Weight; D001942:Breast Feeding; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012494:Sampling Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D014886:Weaning
vernacular_title: Quanto è praticato oggi l'allattamento al seno in Italia.