Evaluation of breastfeeding in a Baby-Friendly City, Corum, Turkey

Corum is one of the Baby-Friendly Cities in Turkey since 2004. For optimum initiation and continuing of breastfeeding, not only educating the mothers about breast milk and breastfeeding is enough but also social support systems including family support is very important. The aim of this study was to evaluate the breast feeding status and the effect of lactation counseling support (LCS) on breastfeeding and social support in a Baby-Friendly City. In a cross-sectional study, a questionnaire was administered to 800 mothers of infants between 2-24 months admitted to government and private hospitals and government health facilities in urban part, towns and villages of Corum for any reason, between February 2006 and February 2007. Mothers' and fathers' age and education level, the type of family, the sex and the order of children, the type of birth, the infants' birth weights, planned pregnancy did not affect the participation of LCS. Mothers who gave colostrum as the first food had more frequently taken LCS than mothers who gave prelacteal foods (p < 0.01). The percentage of LCS in mothers who knew the expression of breast milk and didn't give bottle feeding was higher compared to others (respectively; p < 0.01, p = 0.05). Mothers supported from husbands, sisters and mothers-in-law participated more frequently (p < 0.05) in LCS than unsupported mothers. LCS is very important for mothers to develop correct attitudes and behavior about breastfeeding and family collaboration. Further regional studies should be done to follow the changes in breastfeeding status, to detect the local problems and to arrange special training programmes.