[Medical responsibilities concerning maternal breast-feeding].
OBJECTIVE
The objective of this study was to determine the knowledge of high ranking officers in Servei-Valencià-Salut (SVS) about breast-feeding (BF) and national and international regulation related to it, in addition to determining what sanitary policies were undertaken by them to promote BF.


METHODS
A survey was sent by mail to all high ranking officers (HO) of SVS and all pediatric chief staff services (PC) in our community. To analyze data between both groups a Chi square test and odds ratio in the qualitative variables and variance in the quantitative.


RESULTS
Of the surveys sent, 100% were answered by the PC and 44% the HO. Breast-feeding was ranked as superior to artificial feeding by 100% of PC and 73% of HO (p < 0.05). Both groups believed in the necessity of carrying out policies to promote BF in developed countries. Only two PC seemed to know the 1981 OMS's code. All PC carried out policies of BF promotion in their area of influence, while in the HO the percentages varied from 64% to 0% according to their position in the health service organization.


CONCLUSIONS
It is necessary to spread the knowledge of and to apply the OMS/UNICEF normatives and to involve al HO with real decision-making power in the development of sanitary policies.
Santos Serrano
L
L
Servicio de Pediatría, Hospital Marina Alta. Denia, Alicante.
Paricio Talayero
J M
JM
Fernández Feijoó
A
A
Ferriol Camacho
M
M
Grieco Burucua
M
M
Beseler Soto
B
B
D001942:Breast Feeding; D005526:Food, Formulated; D006296:Health Services / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D016134:Organizational Policy; D010372:Pediatrics; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013030:Spain; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
Los cargos sanitarios ante la lactancia materna.