Professional attitudes to breast-feeding

Extract

We have heard a lot about the promotion of sales of baby food, but we have never analysed the population's readiness to accept such foods, and how that acceptance comes about. Nor have we analysed the role of the doctors or the health professionals. What is it or what should it be ?

About a year ago we carried out a study in London on the intention to breast-feed and the success of mothers in breast-feeding (Liebrich & Morley, 1976), at the same time analysing the attitudes of the staff attending these mothers, who should have helped the latter in their breast-feeding. Table 1 shows a trend in the answers given by women who intend to breast-feed disagreeing with such statements as ‘Nowadays it is no longer necessary to put up with the mess of breast-feeding when easily prepared milks are available’ and agreement (among the same group of mothers) with such statements as: ‘Breast milk is the best food for a baby under four months’.