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Breastfeeding and women's health
1University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, New Brunswick, New Jersey, USA.
Breastfeeding often is promoted mainly as an infant health issue, with little if any mention of its importance to the mother's health. Despite its significant impact on women's health, breastfeeding is rarely emphasized in women's health programs. This article reviews the current medical literature regarding women's health aspects of breastfeeding, including medical, psychosocial, and environmental issues. Strategies for increasing health care professionals' awareness and promotion of breastfeeding as a women's health issue are discussed in the hope of reversing the worldwide decline in breastfeeding.
Breastfeeding often is promoted mainly as an infant health issue, with little if any mention of its importance to the mother's health. Despite its significant impact on women's health, breastfeeding is rarely emphasized in women's health programs. This article reviews the current medical literature regarding women's health aspects of breastfeeding, including medical, psychosocial, and environmental issues. Strategies for increasing health care professionals' awareness and promotion of breastfeeding as a women's health issue are discussed in the hope of reversing the worldwide decline in breastfeeding.