<p>The aim of this study was to describe the demographic and socio-economic factors influencing infant feeding practices in the Amathola district, South Africa. A survey was chosen as the design method and a structured questionnaire was used to collect information regarding the socio-economic and demographic factors and related infant feeding choices. The study population consisted of 100 women with infants up to the age of 14 weeks, who brought their infant for immunization at the selected community health clinic (the largest clinic in the Mdantsane area). Infants up to the age of 14 weeks were used because all the visits up to 14 weeks coincide with the local immunization program, and according to WHO guidelines all infants should be exclusively breastfed until they reach the age of 6 months of age. The study found that there are many families in the Mdantsane area that suffer from poor conditions and inadequate services such as a lack of electricity, working taps or flush toilets within their dwelling, which in turn has an impact on infant feeding practices. It was found that even in poor demographic and socio-economic conditions, formula feeding is still the chosen feeding practice for the majority of mothers.</p>

<p>The aim of this study was to describe the demographic and socio-economic factors influencing infant feeding practices in the Amathola district, South Africa. A survey was chosen as the design method and a structured questionnaire was used to collect information regarding the socio-economic and demographic factors and related infant feeding choices. The study population consisted of 100 women with infants up to the age of 14 weeks, who brought their infant for immunization at the selected community health clinic (the largest clinic in the Mdantsane area). Infants up to the age of 14 weeks were used because all the visits up to 14 weeks coincide with the local immunization program, and according to WHO guidelines all infants should be exclusively breastfed until they reach the age of 6 months of age. The study found that there are many families in the Mdantsane area that suffer from poor conditions and inadequate services such as a lack of electricity, working taps or flush toilets within their dwelling, which in turn has an impact on infant feeding practices. It was found that even in poor demographic and socio-economic conditions, formula feeding is still the chosen feeding practice for the majority of mothers.</p>

Magister Curationis - MCur / The aim of this study was to describe the demographic and socio-economic factors influencing infant feeding practices in the Amathola district, South Africa. A survey was chosen as the design method and a structured questionnaire was used to collect information regarding the socio-economic and demographic factors and related infant feeding choices. The study population consisted of 100 women with infants up to the age of 14 weeks, who brought their infant for immunization at the selected community health clinic (the largest clinic in the Mdantsane area). Infants up to the age of 14 weeks were used because all the visits up to 14 weeks coincide with the local immunization program, and according to WHO guidelines all infants should be exclusively breastfed until they reach the age of 6 months of age. The study found that there are many families in the Mdantsane area that suffer from poor conditions and inadequate services such as a lack of electricity, working taps or flush toilets within their dwelling, which in turn has an impact on infant feeding practices. It was found that even in poor demographic and socio-economic conditions, formula feeding is still the chosen feeding practice for the majority of mothers. / South Africa

Magister Scientiae (Nutrition Management) - MSc(NM) / Despite evidence-based proof on the benefits of breastfeeding, little progress has been made globally to improve breastfeeding rates (The Lancet, 2016), including in South Africa. Despite many attempts to improve breastfeeding rates worldwide, women are still choosing to stop breastfeeding or avoid it due to various factors (The Lancet, 2016). Aim: To explore the factors influencing the exclusive breastfeeding rate within the first 14 weeks postpartum with mothers in the Khayelitsha Eastern Substructure.

Objetivos: Verificar os efeitos do acompanhamento fonoaudiológico no desenvolvimento das habilidades de alimentação do bebê no primeiro ano de vida. Métodos: Estudo de coorte prospectivo realizado entre abril de 2010 a maio de 2011, com binômios mãe/bebê inicialmente em uma maternidade na zona sul do município de São Paulo e acompanhados durante 12 meses. O grupo estudo foi constituído de RNs com 24 a 48 horas de vida, filhos de mães primigestas e maiores de 18 anos de idade, com escore 11 de acordo com o Escala de Avaliação Motora-Oral em Berçário, submetidos a acompanhamento fonoaudiológico. O grupo controle foi obtido de bebês nascidos na mesma maternidade, com APGAR 9 e > 2.500g., de mães com mesmas características, contatadas aos 12 meses. Resultados: A prevalência de desmame foi semelhante em ambos os grupos, entretanto o aleitamento materno apresentou Md de 7m e 5m nos grupos estudo e controle respectivamente (p=0,04). A introdução da consistência alimentar sólida foi em média 7,8m e 9,6m (p<0,01). Os copos de transição foram utilizados por 92,9% e 70,2% (p=0,01) e canudos por 59,5% e 27,7% (p=0,003). A prevalência do uso de chupeta foi 54,0% e 27,7% (p=0,01) aos 12 meses. Conclusões: O grupo acompanhado mostrou melhora no desempenho do aleitamento materno aos 2 meses. Comparado ao grupo controle, apresentou desmame mais tardio; redução do tempo de introdução da consistência sólida, mais utilização dos utensílios e menor prevalência do uso de chupeta aos 12m / Objectives: Investigate the effects of speech therapy in the development of feeding skills of the baby in the first year of life Methods: A prospective cohort study between April 2010 and May 2011 whit mother / baby binomial in a maternity hospital in the southern area of São Paulo and followed during 12 months. The study group consisted of newborns with 24 to 48 hours of life, children of primigravid mothers older than 18 years of age, wich had a score 11 according to the Oral-Motor in Nursery Assessment Scale undergoing speech therapy. The control group was obtained from babies born at the same hospital, with Apgar 9 and > 2,500 g, from mothers with similar characteristics who were contacted at 12 months. Results: The prevalence of weaning was similar in both groups, however breastfeeding presented Md of 7m and 5m in the study and control groups respectively (p = 0.04). The introduction of solid consistency food was at 7.8 m and 9.6 m (p <0.01). The glass transition were used by 92.9% and 70.2% (p = 0.01) and straws by 59.5% and 27.7% (p = 0.003). The prevalence of pacifier use was 54.0% and 27.7% (p = 0.01) at 12 months. Conclusions: The study group, compared to the control, presented: improvement in the performance of breastfeeding at 2 months, later weaning, reducing time for introduction of solid consistency food, wider use of utensils and lower prevalence of pacifier use at 12m

<p>Promotion of exclusive breastfeeding (EBF), (giving breast milk only without any solids or liquids), has proved to be very challenging in the South African context, although this infant feeding practice has been found to protect babies against diarrhoea and respiratory tract infections and to carry a lower risk of HIV infection than mixed feeding (breastfeeding combined with formula or solids). Study design: The PROMISE-EBF study is a multi-country cluster randomised trial to examine peer support to promote exclusive breastfeeding in Africa. For the South African site in the PROMISE-EBF study, three sites, Paarl, Rietvlei and Umlazi, were selected because of their different geographic settings and each site operated as a separate stratum for cluster selection and randomisation purposes. The clusters were then randomised into intervention and control arms making a total of 17 clusters in each arm. HIV positive and negative women in the intervention arm received support on their choice of infant feeding from the peer supporters who visited them at their homes while the women in the control group only received the standard infant feeding counselling and support provided by health care&nbsp / workers at health facilities. Data collection: Mothers were interviewed at recruitment during the antepartum period to establish eligibility, obtain informed consent and data on socio-economic status. Home visits were scheduled for data collection by trained data collectors at 3, 6, 12 and 24 weeks after birth. Analysis of results: This mini-thesis was a secondary analysis of the PROMISE-EBF data focusing on the South African data only. The data was adjusted for clustering and analysed using SAS. Comparison of variables between the intervention and control groups within sites was done. Results: A significant difference, regarding counselling and infant feeding practices, was observed among all women who received peer support compared to those who received the standard antenatal counselling, with more women in the intervention group (20.5%) practising EBF than those in the control group (12.8%) by Week 3. When the women‟s HIV status was considered, more than 65% of HIV positive and 40% of HIV negative women practised MF and EFF (giving formula milk only with no breast milk) throughout the study, respectively, regardless of the group they were in. For women who hadintended to practise EBF at recruitment, 33% in the control group and 20% in the intervention group actually practised EBF by Week 3. Regarding disclosure and feeding choice, 77.4% of women who had disclosed their HIV status actually practised MF versus 8.6% who practised EBF by Week 3.Conclusion: Community peer counselling should be strengthened as the results from this study showed that a high percentage of women who practised EBF were those who had received counselling, irrespective of their HIV status. The high percentage of HIV positive women who practised high risk feeding, despite receiving infant counselling, is of concern. Disclosure of the women‟s HIV status did not translate to them practising low risk infant feeding methods, which may suggest that there are other issues that determine the women‟s choice of infant feeding.</p>

<p>Promotion of exclusive breastfeeding (EBF), (giving breast milk only without any solids or liquids), has proved to be very challenging in the South African context, although this infant feeding practice has been found to protect babies against diarrhoea and respiratory tract infections and to carry a lower risk of HIV infection than mixed feeding (breastfeeding combined with formula or solids). Study design: The PROMISE-EBF study is a multi-country cluster randomised trial to examine peer support to promote exclusive breastfeeding in Africa. For the South African site in the PROMISE-EBF study, three sites, Paarl, Rietvlei and Umlazi, were selected because of their different geographic settings and each site operated as a separate stratum for cluster selection and randomisation purposes. The clusters were then randomised into intervention and control arms making a total of 17 clusters in each arm. HIV positive and negative women in the intervention arm received support on their choice of infant feeding from the peer supporters who visited them at their homes while the women in the control group only received the standard infant feeding counselling and support provided by health care&nbsp / workers at health facilities. Data collection: Mothers were interviewed at recruitment during the antepartum period to establish eligibility, obtain informed consent and data on socio-economic status. Home visits were scheduled for data collection by trained data collectors at 3, 6, 12 and 24 weeks after birth. Analysis of results: This mini-thesis was a secondary analysis of the PROMISE-EBF data focusing on the South African data only. The data was adjusted for clustering and analysed using SAS. Comparison of variables between the intervention and control groups within sites was done. Results: A significant difference, regarding counselling and infant feeding practices, was observed among all women who received peer support compared to those who received the standard antenatal counselling, with more women in the intervention group (20.5%) practising EBF than those in the control group (12.8%) by Week 3. When the women‟s HIV status was considered, more than 65% of HIV positive and 40% of HIV negative women practised MF and EFF (giving formula milk only with no breast milk) throughout the study, respectively, regardless of the group they were in. For women who hadintended to practise EBF at recruitment, 33% in the control group and 20% in the intervention group actually practised EBF by Week 3. Regarding disclosure and feeding choice, 77.4% of women who had disclosed their HIV status actually practised MF versus 8.6% who practised EBF by Week 3.Conclusion: Community peer counselling should be strengthened as the results from this study showed that a high percentage of women who practised EBF were those who had received counselling, irrespective of their HIV status. The high percentage of HIV positive women who practised high risk feeding, despite receiving infant counselling, is of concern. Disclosure of the women‟s HIV status did not translate to them practising low risk infant feeding methods, which may suggest that there are other issues that determine the women‟s choice of infant feeding.</p>

Objetivos: Verificar os efeitos do acompanhamento fonoaudiológico no desenvolvimento das habilidades de alimentação do bebê no primeiro ano de vida. Métodos: Estudo de coorte prospectivo realizado entre abril de 2010 a maio de 2011, com binômios mãe/bebê inicialmente em uma maternidade na zona sul do município de São Paulo e acompanhados durante 12 meses. O grupo estudo foi constituído de RNs com 24 a 48 horas de vida, filhos de mães primigestas e maiores de 18 anos de idade, com escore 11 de acordo com o Escala de Avaliação Motora-Oral em Berçário, submetidos a acompanhamento fonoaudiológico. O grupo controle foi obtido de bebês nascidos na mesma maternidade, com APGAR 9 e > 2.500g., de mães com mesmas características, contatadas aos 12 meses. Resultados: A prevalência de desmame foi semelhante em ambos os grupos, entretanto o aleitamento materno apresentou Md de 7m e 5m nos grupos estudo e controle respectivamente (p=0,04). A introdução da consistência alimentar sólida foi em média 7,8m e 9,6m (p<0,01). Os copos de transição foram utilizados por 92,9% e 70,2% (p=0,01) e canudos por 59,5% e 27,7% (p=0,003). A prevalência do uso de chupeta foi 54,0% e 27,7% (p=0,01) aos 12 meses. Conclusões: O grupo acompanhado mostrou melhora no desempenho do aleitamento materno aos 2 meses. Comparado ao grupo controle, apresentou desmame mais tardio; redução do tempo de introdução da consistência sólida, mais utilização dos utensílios e menor prevalência do uso de chupeta aos 12m / Objectives: Investigate the effects of speech therapy in the development of feeding skills of the baby in the first year of life Methods: A prospective cohort study between April 2010 and May 2011 whit mother / baby binomial in a maternity hospital in the southern area of São Paulo and followed during 12 months. The study group consisted of newborns with 24 to 48 hours of life, children of primigravid mothers older than 18 years of age, wich had a score 11 according to the Oral-Motor in Nursery Assessment Scale undergoing speech therapy. The control group was obtained from babies born at the same hospital, with Apgar 9 and > 2,500 g, from mothers with similar characteristics who were contacted at 12 months. Results: The prevalence of weaning was similar in both groups, however breastfeeding presented Md of 7m and 5m in the study and control groups respectively (p = 0.04). The introduction of solid consistency food was at 7.8 m and 9.6 m (p <0.01). The glass transition were used by 92.9% and 70.2% (p = 0.01) and straws by 59.5% and 27.7% (p = 0.003). The prevalence of pacifier use was 54.0% and 27.7% (p = 0.01) at 12 months. Conclusions: The study group, compared to the control, presented: improvement in the performance of breastfeeding at 2 months, later weaning, reducing time for introduction of solid consistency food, wider use of utensils and lower prevalence of pacifier use at 12m

Magister Public Health - MPH / Promotion of exclusive breastfeeding (EBF), (giving breast milk only without any solids or liquids), has proved to be very challenging in the South African context, although this infant feeding practice has been found to protect babies against diarrhoea and respiratory tract infections and to carry a lower risk of HIV infection than mixed feeding (breastfeeding combined with formula or solids). Study design: The PROMISE-EBF study is a multi-country cluster randomised trial to examine peer support to promote exclusive breastfeeding in Africa. For the South African site in the PROMISE-EBF study, three sites, Paarl, Rietvlei and Umlazi, were selected because of their different geographic settings and each site operated as a separate stratum for cluster selection and randomisation purposes. The clusters were then randomised into intervention and control arms making a total of 17 clusters in each arm. HIV positive and negative women in the intervention arm received support on their choice of infant feeding from the peer supporters who visited them at their homes while the women in the control group only received the standard infant feeding counselling and support provided by health care workers at health facilities. Data collection: Mothers were interviewed at recruitment during the antepartum period to establish eligibility, obtain informed consent and data on socio-economic status. Home visits were scheduled for data collection by trained data collectors at 3, 6, 12 and 24 weeks after birth. Analysis of results: This mini-thesis was a secondary analysis of the PROMISE-EBF data focusing on the South African data only. The data was adjusted for clustering and analysed using SAS. Comparison of variables between the intervention and control groups within sites was done. Results: A significant difference, regarding counselling and infant feeding practices, was observed among all women who received peer support compared to those who received the standard antenatal counselling, with more women in the intervention group (20.5%) practising EBF than those in the control group (12.8%) by Week 3. When the women's HIV status was considered, more than 65% of HIV positive and 40% of HIV negative women practised MF and EFF (giving formula milk only with no breast milk) throughout the study, respectively, regardless of the group they were in. For women who hadintended to practise EBF at recruitment, 33% in the control group and 20% in the intervention group actually practised EBF by Week 3. Regarding disclosure and feeding choice, 77.4% of women who had disclosed their HIV status actually practised MF versus 8.6% who practised EBF by Week 3.Conclusion: Community peer counselling should be strengthened as the results from this study showed that a high percentage of women who practised EBF were those who had received counselling, irrespective of their HIV status. The high percentage of HIV positive women who practised high risk feeding, despite receiving infant counselling, is of concern. Disclosure of the women's HIV status did not translate to them practising low risk infant feeding methods, which may suggest that there are other issues that determine the women's choice of infant feeding. / South Africa