EVALUATION OF A HEALTH-EDUCATION PROGRAM IN CHINA TO INCREASE BREAST-FEEDING RATES

A survey of 106 pregnant women who registered at the Maternal and Chil d Health Centre in Luwan District during 1990 was undertaken. A health education programme 'A Friend of Pregnant Women' has been developed t o provide information and skills in breast-feeding. The programme invo lved follow-up visits at the 3rd and 42nd day after delivery and at 4 and 6 months after delivery in a sample of 106 women. The programme wa s effective in increasing knowledge about breast-feeding among attende rs, with 44% of women correctly responding to knowledge items at pre-t est compared with 60% at post-test. In addition, the rate of breast-fe eding at 4 months was significantly greater in the group receiving the programme compared to a control group who did not receive the program me (44 versus 21%). Insufficient milk was the most important factor co ntributing to a failure to breast-feed. The very high Caesarean sectio n rates probably contributed to poor lactation.