title: Exclusive breastfeeding among women on the plantations in Sri Lanka.
abstract: A cross-sectional questionnaire survey, using the current status method for the assessment of breastfeeding, was conducted among women working in the plantations in Sri Lanka. The exclusive breastfeeding rate was 32.4 per cent. The mothers' return to work and the feeling of having insufficient milk were significantly and negatively associated with exclusive breastfeeding. Women will sometimes start with powdered milk several weeks before going back to work, suggesting that work itself is not the only reason for introducing powdered milk. Although the health authorities have endorsed the concept of exclusive breastfeeding, further health education is needed for the full acceptance of exclusive breastfeeding in the population.
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo, Sri Lanka.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sørensen
authors.forename: D N
authors.initials: DN
authors.lastname: Fernando
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Hettiarachchi
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Durongdej
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Podhipak
authors.forename: B B
authors.initials: BB
authors.lastname: Skaara
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000383:Agriculture; D001942:Breast Feeding / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D012494:Sampling Studies; D013188:Sri Lanka; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires