title: Health effects of infant feeding: Information for parents in leaflets and magazines in five European countries.
abstract: Parents' decisions about whether to breastfeed their infant, and when to introduce complementary foods, are important public health issues. Breastfeeding has beneficial health effects and is widely promoted. Leaflets and magazine articles on infant feeding were collected in 2005, in five European countries (England, Finland, Germany, Hungary, Spain), and screened for statements that link feeding behaviours to infant health outcomes. A total of 127 leaflets contained 512 statements (0.38 / published page). Magazines contained approximately 1 article / month. Health outcomes were more intensively covered in England and Germany. Most statements referred to short term health implications. Lack of scientific agreement may underlie lack of cover of longer term health effects. Scope may exist to promote improved infant feeding practices by increasing the quantity and specificity of messages about health effects. Further research is required to evaluate the impact of alternative means of providing information on infant feeding practices.
authors.affiliation: 1University of Surrey, UK.
authors.forename: Heather
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Gage
authors.forename: Julia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Von Rosen-Von Hoewel
authors.forename: Kirsi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Laitinen
authors.forename: Viktoria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Jakobik
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Martin-Bautista
authors.forename: Martina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schmid
authors.forename: Bernadette
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Egan
authors.forename: Jane
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Morgan
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: Tamas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Decsi
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Campoy
authors.forename: Berthold
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Koletzko
authors.forename: Monique
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Raats
keywords: European countries; health effects; infant feeding; leaflets; magazines; scientific agreement