PROMOTION OF BREAST-FEEDING IN LOCALITIES OF BIRTH IN THE COMPANIA REGION

A questionaire on the status quo of the promotion of breast feeding wa s handed out To the medical and nom-medical personnel in 40 hospitals of birth (26 public places and 14 private places) of the five province s of the Region. Only 13/40 nurseries practice rooming-in; in 20/40 ne wborns receive the first breastfeed early (< 6h); in 18/40 the newborn s receive a bottle feed before the rise of maternal milk; in 13/40 the addition of formula is a routine and in 19/40 is done only in ''case problems''. Nevertheless 95% of the workers declare that the mothers a re informed of the advantages of maternal milk and are encouraged to b reast feed. To increase breast feeding, it is needed to change some pr actices of neonatal care and train all health professionels.