THE RESULTS OF BREASTFEEDING PROMOTION IN KAUNAS EGLĖ MARKŪNIENĖ MD, PhD Kaunas Medical University Hospital, Neonatology Clinic LITHUANIA

Prevalence of Breastfeeding in Lithuania Lithuanian Nutrition Center % %

Breastfeeding Promoted By: Kaunas Medical University (KMU) Kaunas Medical University (KMU) Obstetric-Gynecology, Neonatology and Pediatric Clinics of Kaunas Medical University Hospital Obstetric-Gynecology, Neonatology and Pediatric Clinics of Kaunas Medical University Hospital Municipality of Kaunas Municipality of Kaunas Society of Breastfeeding Promotion Society of Breastfeeding Promotion Parents Club “Father, Mother and Me” Parents Club “Father, Mother and Me” Publishing and Information Center “For Life” Publishing and Information Center “For Life”

Target Groups Target Groups Students of health care Students of health care Physicians Physicians Midwifes Midwifes Nurses Nurses Pregnant women Pregnant women Mothers Mothers

Method of Study Selected term, healthy newborns (October and November of year 2000) Selected term, healthy newborns (October and November of year 2000) From Maternity homes in 9 different locations From Maternity homes in 9 different locations 1000 questionnaires sent by post on April and May of questionnaires sent by post on April and May of 2001 Response rate 46.9 % Response rate 46.9 %

Objective To compare the factors of breastfeeding mothers have been divided into two groups: To compare the factors of breastfeeding mothers have been divided into two groups: –first group – mothers from Kaunas –second group – mothers from other locations of Lithuania – 234

Education of Mothers

Family Income per Month ** 1 EUR= 3.45 Lt

Reasons of Refusing to Breastfeed ** *

Indicators of Insufficiency of Milk, Used by Mothers * **

Did the Mothers Seek Help ?

Mothers Who Sought Help Got Advice to: * **

Breastfeeding Difficulties in the Maternity Home **

What Food Did the Newborn Get in the Maternity Home?

Why Did the Newborn Was Fed in That Way?

Usage of Artificial Nipples in the Maternity Home * ***

CONCLUSION The prevalence of BF in Kaunas is higher than in other locations of Lithuania Practice of KMU Practice of NGO Health policy of Municipality

RECOMENDATIONS High quality of teaching methods for target groups High quality of teaching methods for target groups Development of Mother-to- Mother support groups Development of Mother-to- Mother support groups Promotion of BF in the society Promotion of BF in the society State policy of BF in the country State policy of BF in the country

THANK YOU! QUESTIONS? EGLĖ MARKŪNIENĖ, MD, PhD KMU