title: [Assessment of breast feeding rates during compulsory vaccination: preliminary outcomes].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In consideration of the World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations on promoting and supporting breast feeding, a measurement of breast feeding rates was planned within Vercelli's Province (ASL 11, Piedmont, Italy) in order to compare the local situation to the national and international one, and to promote ideas and strategies for increasing the practice of breast feeding up to six months or beyond.
  
  
  METHODS
  During Diptheria Tetanus whole cell Pertussis vaccination (DTP) vaccination a questionnaire about their children's feeding was handed out to all mothers. Preliminary outcomes were elaborated after a follow-up of six months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  So far 1591 questionnaires have been collected. During the first DTP immunizations 31.63% of the children were exclusively breastfed and 15.81% were partially breastfed. At the second vaccination, 11.14% and 37.68% of infants were completely and partially breastfed, respectively. A 36.11% of partially breast feeding still emerged during the third DTP vaccination.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The outcomes of this study are inferior compared to WHO expectation and to national statistics. Increasing breast feeding rates should consequently become a priority aim, pursuing it through the health workers training, the support of mothers who encounter difficulties during their hospital stay or at home, and making the public aware of breast feeding practices.
authors.affiliation: Struttura Ospedaliera Complessa di Pediatria, Ospedale S. Andrea ASL 11, Vercelli, Italia.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Candriella
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Uga
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Perino
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Angilella
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Alloni
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Trada
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Grossi
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tripaldi
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bagnasco
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Silano
authors.forename: L M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Olmo
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Allen
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Provera
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001942:Breast Feeding / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014611:Vaccination