THE IMPACT OF LACTATION CENTERS ON BREAST-FEEDING PATTERNS, MORBIDITYAND GROWTH - A BIRTH COHORT STUDY

The influence of lactation centres on breastfeeding patterns, morbidit y and nutritional status was assessed through a longitudinal study fro m birth up to the age of 6 months among 605 mothers and newborns in Gu aruja, Sao Paulo, Brazil. Children recruited in the perinatal period w ho subsequently attended the lactation centres (54%) were exclusively breastfed significantly more at 4 months (43 versus 18%) and at 6 mont hs of age (15 versus 6%), than non-attenders, even after adjusting for confounders. Also, attenders presented less diarrhoea in the last for tnight than non-attenders (10 versus 17%), and their weight for age wa s significantly better (mean z-scores of 0.26 and 0.02, respectively). Lactation centres are effective in promoting breastfeeding, and their use in areas with short breastfeeding duration should be considered. This is the first report of a significant impact of a breastfeeding pr omotion programme on children's morbidity and growth.