Introdução-O aleitamento materno promove vantagens para a criança, mulher e sociedade. Entretanto as taxas de amamentação, principalmente o aleitamento materno exclusivo estão abaixo dos níveis desejados em diversos países. A identificação dos determinantes da interrupção precoce e a quantificação da interação destes fatores é crucial para estabelecer, avaliar e promover políticas públicas em prol das práticas de amamentação. Objetivo-Estimar os efeitos dos fatores associados à prevalência do aleitamento materno exclusivo, predominante e continuado no primeiro e segundo anos de vida em países da América Latina e Caribe no período de 2000 a 2016. Métodos-Foram utilizados microdados coletados no projeto Monitoring and Evaluation to Assess and Use Results Demographic and Health Survey. Para complementar as informações foram recolhidos dados agregados do World Bank. Os indicadores analisados foram aleitamento materno exclusivo (AME), aleitamento materno predominante (AMP) e aleitamento materno continuado (AMC) no primeiro e segundo anos de vida; os valores foram expressos em prevalência e estratificados por quintos de riqueza. Selecionou-se o último inquérito disponível de cada país da América Latina e Caribe com dados entre os anos de 2000 e 2016. As variáveis foram selecionadas segundo disponibilidade e enquadramento no modelo conceitual proposto por ROLLINS et al. (2016). O modelo utilizado no estudo foi elegido após análise com Regressão de Poisson e, posteriormente, foi realizada análise logística multinível de efeitos mistos para quantificar o efeito de cada determinante do efeito fixo ajustado pelo efeito randômico. Resultados-A variação das prevalências dos indicadores foi de 7,4% a 60,3% no AME, 13,9% a 71% no AMP, 35,0% a 86,6%no AMC no primeiro ano e 18,9% a 55,0% no AMC no segundo ano de vida. Bolívia e Guatemala se destacam por apresentar as maiores taxas de AME, 60,3% e 54,2%, respectivamente. Os países apresentaram maior prevalência dos indicadores nos quintos inferiores de renda, destacando-se as associações do padrão de aumento da magnitude do efeito negativo à medida que o quinto de renda aumenta. O AME e AMP se associaram diretamente à \"amamentação na primeira hora\", \"estado conjugal\" e \"queria o último filho; \"idade materna\" e \"status de trabalho\" se associaram inversamente aos indicadores AMC no 1º e 2º anos de vida. Na análise de efeitos mistos, os indicadores AME e AMP se associaram diretamente a \"amamentação na primeira hora\" e \"estado conjugal\" e inversamente às variáveis \"local do parto\" e \"status de trabalho\". A escolaridade materna apresentou associação inversa com os indicadores AMP, AMC no 1º e 2º anos de vida e o quinto de riqueza apresentou associação inversa com todos os indicadores estudados. O AME apresenta maior variância explicada pelo nível individual, enquanto o AMC no 2º ano de vida sofre grande influência pelo nível contextual (8,99e-15% e 69,7%, respectivamente). Conclusão-As variáveis relacionadas ao indivíduo foram as que melhor explicaram a variância do modelo para o AME, AMP e AMC no 1º ano de vida. As variáveis relacionadas ao contexto explicam maior variabilidade da prevalência do AMC no 2º ano de vida, exibindo a maior interferência do PIB e de influências de âmbito nacional. / Introduction-Breastfeeding promotes benefits for the child, woman and society. However, breastfeeding rates, especially exclusive breastfeeding, are below desired levels in many countries. The identification of the determinants of the interruption precociated and the quantification of interaction factors are crucial to establish, evaluate and promote public policies in breastfeeding practices. Objective-Estimate the effects of factors associated with the prevalence of exclusive, predominant and continued breastfeeding in the first and second years of life in Latin American and Caribbean countries from 2000 to 2016.Methods- We used microdata collected in the project Monitoring and Evaluation to Assess and Use Results Demographic and Health Survey. In addition to the information, aggregated World Bank data was collected. The indicators analyzed were exclusive breastfeeding (EB), predominant breastfeeding (PB) and continuous breastfeeding (CB) in the first and second years of life; the values were expressed in prevalence and stratified by quintiles of wealth. The last available survey of each Latin American and Caribbean country with data between the years 2000 and 2016 was selected. The variables were selected according to availability and framing in the conceptual model proposed by ROLLINS et. al. (2016). The model used in the study was chosen after analysis with Poisson Regression and later, multi-level mixed-effects logistic analysis was performed to quantify the effect of each determinant of the fixed effect adjusted by the random effect. Results- The prevalence of indicators ranged from 7.4% to 60.3% EB, 13.9% to 71% in PB, 35.0% to 86.6% in CB in the first year, and 18.9% to 55.0% in CB in the second year of life. Bolivia and Guatemala stand out for having the highest rates of EB, 60.3% and 54.2%, respectively. The countries presented a higher prevalence of indicators in the lower quintiles of income, especially the associations of the pattern of increase of the magnitude of the negative effect as the fifth of income increases. EB and PB were directly associated with \"first-time breastfeeding\", \"marital status\" and \"wanted the last child; \"maternal age\" and \"work status\" were inversely associated with the CB indicators in the 1st and 2nd years of life. In the mixed effects analysis, the EB and PB indicators were directly associated with \"first-hour breastfeeding\" and \"marital status\" and inversely to the variables \"place of birth\" and \"work status\".The maternal schooling presented an inverse association with the PB, CB indicators in the 1st and 2nd years of life, and the fifth of the wealth had an inverse association with all the indicators studied. The EB shows greater variance explained by the individual level, while the CB in the second year of life suffers great influence at the contextual level (8.99e-15% and 69.7%, respectively). Conclusion- The variables related to the individual were the ones that best explained the variance of the model for EB, PB and CB in the 1st year of life. The variables related to the context explain a greater variability of the prevalence of CB in the second year of life, showing the greater interference of GDP and national influences.

Introdução-O aleitamento materno promove vantagens para a criança, mulher e sociedade. Entretanto as taxas de amamentação, principalmente o aleitamento materno exclusivo estão abaixo dos níveis desejados em diversos países. A identificação dos determinantes da interrupção precoce e a quantificação da interação destes fatores é crucial para estabelecer, avaliar e promover políticas públicas em prol das práticas de amamentação. Objetivo-Estimar os efeitos dos fatores associados à prevalência do aleitamento materno exclusivo, predominante e continuado no primeiro e segundo anos de vida em países da América Latina e Caribe no período de 2000 a 2016. Métodos-Foram utilizados microdados coletados no projeto Monitoring and Evaluation to Assess and Use Results Demographic and Health Survey. Para complementar as informações foram recolhidos dados agregados do World Bank. Os indicadores analisados foram aleitamento materno exclusivo (AME), aleitamento materno predominante (AMP) e aleitamento materno continuado (AMC) no primeiro e segundo anos de vida; os valores foram expressos em prevalência e estratificados por quintos de riqueza. Selecionou-se o último inquérito disponível de cada país da América Latina e Caribe com dados entre os anos de 2000 e 2016. As variáveis foram selecionadas segundo disponibilidade e enquadramento no modelo conceitual proposto por ROLLINS et al. (2016). O modelo utilizado no estudo foi elegido após análise com Regressão de Poisson e, posteriormente, foi realizada análise logística multinível de efeitos mistos para quantificar o efeito de cada determinante do efeito fixo ajustado pelo efeito randômico. Resultados-A variação das prevalências dos indicadores foi de 7,4% a 60,3% no AME, 13,9% a 71% no AMP, 35,0% a 86,6%no AMC no primeiro ano e 18,9% a 55,0% no AMC no segundo ano de vida. Bolívia e Guatemala se destacam por apresentar as maiores taxas de AME, 60,3% e 54,2%, respectivamente. Os países apresentaram maior prevalência dos indicadores nos quintos inferiores de renda, destacando-se as associações do padrão de aumento da magnitude do efeito negativo à medida que o quinto de renda aumenta. O AME e AMP se associaram diretamente à \"amamentação na primeira hora\", \"estado conjugal\" e \"queria o último filho; \"idade materna\" e \"status de trabalho\" se associaram inversamente aos indicadores AMC no 1º e 2º anos de vida. Na análise de efeitos mistos, os indicadores AME e AMP se associaram diretamente a \"amamentação na primeira hora\" e \"estado conjugal\" e inversamente às variáveis \"local do parto\" e \"status de trabalho\". A escolaridade materna apresentou associação inversa com os indicadores AMP, AMC no 1º e 2º anos de vida e o quinto de riqueza apresentou associação inversa com todos os indicadores estudados. O AME apresenta maior variância explicada pelo nível individual, enquanto o AMC no 2º ano de vida sofre grande influência pelo nível contextual (8,99e-15% e 69,7%, respectivamente). Conclusão-As variáveis relacionadas ao indivíduo foram as que melhor explicaram a variância do modelo para o AME, AMP e AMC no 1º ano de vida. As variáveis relacionadas ao contexto explicam maior variabilidade da prevalência do AMC no 2º ano de vida, exibindo a maior interferência do PIB e de influências de âmbito nacional. / Introduction-Breastfeeding promotes benefits for the child, woman and society. However, breastfeeding rates, especially exclusive breastfeeding, are below desired levels in many countries. The identification of the determinants of the interruption precociated and the quantification of interaction factors are crucial to establish, evaluate and promote public policies in breastfeeding practices. Objective-Estimate the effects of factors associated with the prevalence of exclusive, predominant and continued breastfeeding in the first and second years of life in Latin American and Caribbean countries from 2000 to 2016.Methods- We used microdata collected in the project Monitoring and Evaluation to Assess and Use Results Demographic and Health Survey. In addition to the information, aggregated World Bank data was collected. The indicators analyzed were exclusive breastfeeding (EB), predominant breastfeeding (PB) and continuous breastfeeding (CB) in the first and second years of life; the values were expressed in prevalence and stratified by quintiles of wealth. The last available survey of each Latin American and Caribbean country with data between the years 2000 and 2016 was selected. The variables were selected according to availability and framing in the conceptual model proposed by ROLLINS et. al. (2016). The model used in the study was chosen after analysis with Poisson Regression and later, multi-level mixed-effects logistic analysis was performed to quantify the effect of each determinant of the fixed effect adjusted by the random effect. Results- The prevalence of indicators ranged from 7.4% to 60.3% EB, 13.9% to 71% in PB, 35.0% to 86.6% in CB in the first year, and 18.9% to 55.0% in CB in the second year of life. Bolivia and Guatemala stand out for having the highest rates of EB, 60.3% and 54.2%, respectively. The countries presented a higher prevalence of indicators in the lower quintiles of income, especially the associations of the pattern of increase of the magnitude of the negative effect as the fifth of income increases. EB and PB were directly associated with \"first-time breastfeeding\", \"marital status\" and \"wanted the last child; \"maternal age\" and \"work status\" were inversely associated with the CB indicators in the 1st and 2nd years of life. In the mixed effects analysis, the EB and PB indicators were directly associated with \"first-hour breastfeeding\" and \"marital status\" and inversely to the variables \"place of birth\" and \"work status\".The maternal schooling presented an inverse association with the PB, CB indicators in the 1st and 2nd years of life, and the fifth of the wealth had an inverse association with all the indicators studied. The EB shows greater variance explained by the individual level, while the CB in the second year of life suffers great influence at the contextual level (8.99e-15% and 69.7%, respectively). Conclusion- The variables related to the individual were the ones that best explained the variance of the model for EB, PB and CB in the 1st year of life. The variables related to the context explain a greater variability of the prevalence of CB in the second year of life, showing the greater interference of GDP and national influences.

<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>

Apesar de existirem evidências suficientes sobre benefícios do aleitamento materno (AM), apenas 35% das crianças são amamentadas exclusivamente até o quarto mês de vida. Visando estender esta prática, OMS/UNICEF lançaram a Iniciativa Hospital Amigo da Criança (IHAC), que estabelece sistema de credenciamento para maternidades de acordo com grau de incentivo ao AM. Esta dissertação pretende investigar a efetividade da IHAC na duração de dois tipos de aleitamento materno: exclusivo (AME) e predominante (AMP) entre crianças usuárias de Unidades Básicas de Saúde (UBS) do Rio de Janeiro. Trata-se de estudo transversal, sendo a população de estudo constituída de 811 mães de crianças menores de 5 meses de idade, selecionadas aleatoriamente em cinco UBS na cidade do Rio de Janeiro. A variável de exposição foi categorizada em local de nascimento ocorridos em HAC, naqueles em vias de receber titulação (EVHAC) e naqueles sem titulação. Os desfechos considerados foram duração do AME e do AMP, que inclui também crianças em AME (AMEP). Na análise dos dados, optou-se pelo modelo log-log complementar, que permitiu recompor experiência longitudinal da coorte através do recordatório alimentar de 7 dias e da informação da idade das mesmas, caracterizando abordagem tipo current status data. Mesmo após controle por variáveis sociodemográficas, relativas ao estilo de vida e aos aspectos psicossociais maternos, à utilização dos serviços de saúde, idade e saúde da criança, houve maior duração do AME e AMEP em crianças nascidas em HAC e EVHAC. As taxas de AME e de AMEP são mais de duas vezes maiores entre recém-nascidos que nasceram em HAC e EVHAC. Tal efeito diminui ao longo da idade da criança, mantendo-se evidente até quatro (EVHAC) e dois (HAC) meses de vida quando se considera AME e até dois (EVHAC) e cinco (HAC) meses quando se considera AMEP. Os resultados confirmam a efetividade da IHAC nesta clientela,especialmente na manutenção de AME e AMEP nos primeiros meses de vida. Estes também sugerem necessidade de fortalecimento da IHAC e maior integração entre maternidades e UBS, visando garantir aleitamento exclusivo até seis meses de vida / Although there are sufficient evidences about breastfeeding (BF) benefits, only 35% of infants worldwide are exclusively breastfed during the first four months of life. As an effort to extend BF duration, WHO/UNICEF launched the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI), which establishes hospitals accreditation as Baby-Friendly Hospitals (BFH) when it meets the Ten Steps for Successful Breastfeeding. This dissertation aims to investigate the effectiveness of the BFHI on exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) and exclusive plus predominant breastfeeding (EPBF) duration. This is a cross-sectional study with collected information throughout interviews of 811 mothers of children under 5 months old, randomly selected at five health centers in Rio de Janeiro. Exposure variable was classified according to hospitals compliance with the Ten Steps. There were three possible status: accredited hospitals (BFH), working in becoming BFH or certified hospitals (CBFH) and hospitals without BFHI accreditation or certification. Outcomes were EBF and EPBF duration. Data was analyzed by complementary log-log transformation models, which allowed capture cohort longitudinal experience through 7-day feeding recordatory and infants age (current status data). Even after adjusting analysis for sociodemographic, life style and psychological maternal factors, health services use and babies age and state of health, there was longer duration of EBF and EPBF of infants born in BFH and CBFH. EBF and EPBF rates were twice higher in newborns born in BFH and CBFH. This protective effect on EBF and EPBF decreases along childs age and its noticed until four (CBFH) and two (BFH) months of age when EBF is considered and until two (CBFH) and five (EBF) months for EPBF. The finding indicates the effectiveness of BFHI in maintaining EBF and EPBF through the first months of life in this population. In order to extend BF duration until six months of life, as recommended by WHO, it would be necessary not only to strengthen the BFHI but also to develop and encourage more actions in favor of breastfeeding, focusing on primary health care facilities

Apesar de existirem evidências suficientes sobre benefícios do aleitamento materno (AM), apenas 35% das crianças são amamentadas exclusivamente até o quarto mês de vida. Visando estender esta prática, OMS/UNICEF lançaram a Iniciativa Hospital Amigo da Criança (IHAC), que estabelece sistema de credenciamento para maternidades de acordo com grau de incentivo ao AM. Esta dissertação pretende investigar a efetividade da IHAC na duração de dois tipos de aleitamento materno: exclusivo (AME) e predominante (AMP) entre crianças usuárias de Unidades Básicas de Saúde (UBS) do Rio de Janeiro. Trata-se de estudo transversal, sendo a população de estudo constituída de 811 mães de crianças menores de 5 meses de idade, selecionadas aleatoriamente em cinco UBS na cidade do Rio de Janeiro. A variável de exposição foi categorizada em local de nascimento ocorridos em HAC, naqueles em vias de receber titulação (EVHAC) e naqueles sem titulação. Os desfechos considerados foram duração do AME e do AMP, que inclui também crianças em AME (AMEP). Na análise dos dados, optou-se pelo modelo log-log complementar, que permitiu recompor experiência longitudinal da coorte através do recordatório alimentar de 7 dias e da informação da idade das mesmas, caracterizando abordagem tipo current status data. Mesmo após controle por variáveis sociodemográficas, relativas ao estilo de vida e aos aspectos psicossociais maternos, à utilização dos serviços de saúde, idade e saúde da criança, houve maior duração do AME e AMEP em crianças nascidas em HAC e EVHAC. As taxas de AME e de AMEP são mais de duas vezes maiores entre recém-nascidos que nasceram em HAC e EVHAC. Tal efeito diminui ao longo da idade da criança, mantendo-se evidente até quatro (EVHAC) e dois (HAC) meses de vida quando se considera AME e até dois (EVHAC) e cinco (HAC) meses quando se considera AMEP. Os resultados confirmam a efetividade da IHAC nesta clientela,especialmente na manutenção de AME e AMEP nos primeiros meses de vida. Estes também sugerem necessidade de fortalecimento da IHAC e maior integração entre maternidades e UBS, visando garantir aleitamento exclusivo até seis meses de vida / Although there are sufficient evidences about breastfeeding (BF) benefits, only 35% of infants worldwide are exclusively breastfed during the first four months of life. As an effort to extend BF duration, WHO/UNICEF launched the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI), which establishes hospitals accreditation as Baby-Friendly Hospitals (BFH) when it meets the Ten Steps for Successful Breastfeeding. This dissertation aims to investigate the effectiveness of the BFHI on exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) and exclusive plus predominant breastfeeding (EPBF) duration. This is a cross-sectional study with collected information throughout interviews of 811 mothers of children under 5 months old, randomly selected at five health centers in Rio de Janeiro. Exposure variable was classified according to hospitals compliance with the Ten Steps. There were three possible status: accredited hospitals (BFH), working in becoming BFH or certified hospitals (CBFH) and hospitals without BFHI accreditation or certification. Outcomes were EBF and EPBF duration. Data was analyzed by complementary log-log transformation models, which allowed capture cohort longitudinal experience through 7-day feeding recordatory and infants age (current status data). Even after adjusting analysis for sociodemographic, life style and psychological maternal factors, health services use and babies age and state of health, there was longer duration of EBF and EPBF of infants born in BFH and CBFH. EBF and EPBF rates were twice higher in newborns born in BFH and CBFH. This protective effect on EBF and EPBF decreases along childs age and its noticed until four (CBFH) and two (BFH) months of age when EBF is considered and until two (CBFH) and five (EBF) months for EPBF. The finding indicates the effectiveness of BFHI in maintaining EBF and EPBF through the first months of life in this population. In order to extend BF duration until six months of life, as recommended by WHO, it would be necessary not only to strengthen the BFHI but also to develop and encourage more actions in favor of breastfeeding, focusing on primary health care facilities

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