Breastfeeding promotion: evidence and problems


Submitted: 7 June 2017
Accepted: 20 June 2017
Published: 28 June 2017
Abstract Views: 20179
PDF: 10694
HTML: 1006
Publisher's note
All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.

Authors

Although breastfeeding is associated with many health benefits in children and mothers, and World Health Organization (WHO) recommends exclusive breastfeeding until 6 months of age and continued breastfeeding until 2 years of age, overall breastfeeding rates remain low. Italian rates of exclusive breastfeeding do not differ from international data. The aim of this review is to evaluate evidence of breastfeeding promotion interventions and the remaining problems to achieve them. We found that breastfeeding support is a complex system of interventions, including individual, structural and environmental factors. Many systematic reviews report evidence that breastfeeding support offered to women increases duration and exclusivity of breastfeeding, both in full term healthy newborns and in preterm infants. Political and economic efforts should be made to ensure breastfeeding support to all women in the different settings, assuming it as a collective target.

Roberto Bellù, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Manzoni Hospital, Lecco

Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

Manuela Condò, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Manzoni Hospital, Lecco

Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

Supporting Agencies

Merqurio Editore

Bellù, R., & Condò, M. (2017). Breastfeeding promotion: evidence and problems. La Pediatria Medica E Chirurgica, 39(2). https://doi.org/10.4081/pmc.2017.156

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Citations

Similar Articles

You may also start an advanced similarity search for this article.