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[To what extent is breast feeding practiced in Italy today?]
T M Manfredi Selvaggi1, A E Tozzi, M P Carrieri
1Osservatorio Epidemiologico Regione Molise.
Objectives:
During a survey regarding infant health in 7 regions, diffusion and length of time of breast-feeding nowadays in Italy were studied.
Materials And Methods:
By OMS Epi methodology, 210 children sampled from each area of study and specialized health workers carried out the interviews at home using a specific questionnaire. The mothers were questioned about the length of time they breast fed their child.
Results:
76% of mothers said they breastfed, 32% said they did it for less than 3 months and 44% for more. In each area, the percentage of breastfeeding was 70% or more. This percentage changed only if the birth weight was very low or the mothers' instruction was high, but this is probably because the most cultured mothers answered easier they breast fed longer.
Discussion:
It seems that mothers are pro-breastfeeding and, in each region, just a quarter of them don't practise it. Besides, about half women breastfed for more than 3 months. This study doesn't permit us to know why some women don't breastfeed or why they wean their children too early. For this reason, we need to curry out further studies.