A self-help programme to increase breast feeding among low-income women.

摘要

This project evaluated a self-help manual designed to motivate low-income mothers to breast feed. The manual communicated simple breast feeding skills as a low-cost extension of counselling. It was tested in a randomized, 2-group pre-/post-test design among 151 low-income pregnant women. 73 treatment women received the manual and standard breast feeding information; 78 controls received only information. 60% of treatment women initiated breast feeding compared to 44% of the controls (P=0.04). No significant differences in breast feeding duration were found. It is concluded that the manual was positively associated with breast feeding initiation, justifying the development of revisions to improve efficacy, especially for breast feeding duration.