PROMOTION OF BREAST FEEDING AMONG EGYPTIAN MOTHERS

Abstract

The promotion goals are to increase breast feeding initiation and

duration rates and improve public suppo1t for breast feeding (Bryant ; et al

.1992) . Extensive research , especially in recent years , documents diverse and compelling advantages to infant , mothers, families , and society from breast feeding .Breasf feeding of infants (term and preterm ) provide advantages with regard to general health , growth and development , nutritional , immunologic,developmental ,psychological , social , economic and environmental benefits while significantly, decreasing risk for a large number of acute and chronic diseases. Human milk feeding decrease the incidence or severity or both of diarrhea lower respiratory infection , otitis ' media , bacteriaemia , bacterial meningitis , botulism , urinary tract infection and nercotizing enterocolitis (Lempert .1998 ) .

Breast fed babies have fewer illnesses because human milk transfers to the infant a mother's antibodies . about 80 percent of the cells in breast milk are macrophages cells that kill bacteria,fungi and viruses . A breast­ I fed baby's digestive tract contains large amount of lactobacillus bitidus , beneficial bacteria that prevent the growth ofharmful organisms (Williams I .1995 ) . Breast feeding had many benefits to the mother increases level of oxytocin , resulting in less postpartum bleeding and more rapid uterine involution , and lactaional amenorrhea causes less menstrual blood loss over the moths after delivery (Lempert . I 998 ). Full breast feeding inhibits I ovulation i.e. a natural contraceptive .Although it is not a sure method of contraception for an individual woman , yet for the community exclusive breast feeding would prevent 20% ofbirth ( EL-Mougi .1994)