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Breastfeeding Practices in Chengdu, Sichuan, China

Department of Biochemistry, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong.

Zhang Maoyu, MD

West China University of Medical Sciences in Chengdu

Zeng Guo, MMedSc

Hong Junrong, NutSp

Yang Yi, MMedSc

West China University of Medical Sciences

Barriers to increased breastfeeding rates in Chengdu, Sichuan were investigated in 1992 and 1993. Responses of focus groups showed that ignorance about breastfeeding and belief that the mother's milk was inadequate, and lack of support from their families, places of employment, and the health system acted as barriers to the women's breastfeeding their infants up to the age of four to six months. Subsequently, 363 mothers of 4to 12-month-old Chengdu infants were surveyed. Although most mothers in both studies said breastmilk was the best food for their infant up to age of four to six months, only about half of the mothers breastfed for longer than one month. Both studies showed that infants who roomed with their mothers after birth were more likely to have been put to their mother's breast earlier, fed colostrum, breastfed somewhat longer, and exclusively breastfed for a somewhat longer period, although their mothers' infant feeding knowledge did not differ. The researchers conclude that Chengdu health workers should teach parents and parents-to-be more about breastfeeding, and that rooming-in be expanded in Chengdu hospitals.

Key Words: Breastfeeding • China • infant nutrition • nutrition education

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