Skip to main content
Key Specialties
Cardiology Diabetology Endocrinology Gastroenterology Geriatrics and Gerontology Gynecology and Obstetrics Hematology Infectious Disease Internal Medicine Nephrology Neurology Oncology Pediatrics Respiratory Medicine Rheumatology Surgery
Congress Coverage
2024 ACC Congress 2023 ESMO Congress 2023 EASD Congress 2023 ERS Congress 2023 ESC Congress
Clinical Collections
Advances in Alzheimer’s

At a glance: The STEP trials

A round-up of the STEP phase 3 clinical trials evaluating semaglutide for weight loss in people with overweight or obesity.
ADVANCED SEARCH
Log in
Top
International Breastfeeding Journal
Published in: International Breastfeeding Journal 1/2009

Open Access 01-12-2009 | Commentary

Exclusive breastfeeding in Sri Lanka: problems of interpretation of reported rates

Authors: Suneth B Agampodi, Thilini C Agampodi, Avanthi de Silva

Published in: International Breastfeeding Journal | Issue 1/2009

Login to get access

Abstract

Accurate interpretation of reported breastfeeding rates is essential in understanding the true picture of a country's breastfeeding status. In Sri Lanka, where the reported exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) rate among infants aged from 0 to 5 months is 75%, accurate understanding of this rate is of the utmost importance. The danger of misinterpreting the data and assuming that Sri Lanka has achieved a high EBF rate is that health workers begin to believe that no further effort should be made in this area. This is very dangerous as the potential to further improve rates of EBF will not be addressed. We discuss the interpretation of survey data and various definitions used in the relevant literature. We strongly recommend that interpretation of EBF rates should be done only after careful evaluation of the definitions and survey methods used.
Appendix
Available only for authorised users
Literature
1.
Department of Census and Statistics: Sri Lanka Demographic and Health Survey 2006/7 Preliminary Report (Draft). Department of Census and Statistics In collaboration with Ministry of Health care and Nutrition ed. Colombo, 2008.
2.
International Baby Food Action Network: The state of the world's breastfeeding, Sri Lankan report card. New Delhi, India: IBFAN Asia Pacific, 2007.
3.
Labbok M, Krasovec K: Toward consistency in breastfeeding definitions. Stud Fam Plann. 1990, 21: 226-230. 10.2307/1966617.CrossRefPubMed
4.
Labbok MH, Coffin CJ: A call for consistency in definition of breastfeeding behaviors. Soc Sci Med. 1997, 44: 1931-1932. 10.1016/S0277-9536(97)00013-0.CrossRefPubMed
5.
World Health Organization: Indicators for Assessing Infant and Young Child Feeding Practices: Part 1 Definitions. Geneva, Switzerland: World Health Organization, 2008.
6.
Webb K, Marks GC, Lund-Adams M, Rutishauser IH, Abraham B: Towards a national system for monitoring breastfeeding in Australia: recommendations for population indicators, definitions and next steps. Australian Food and Nutrition Monitoring Unit. 2001
7.
Piwoz EG, Creed de Kanashiro H, Lopez de Romana G, Black RE, Brown KH: Potential for misclassification of infants' usual feeding practices using 24-hour dietary assessment methods. J Nutr. 1995, 125: 57-65.PubMed
8.
Zohoori N, Popkin BM, Fernandez ME: Breast-feeding patterns in the Philippines: a prospective analysis. J Biosoc Sci. 1993, 25: 127-138. 10.1017/S002193200002037X.CrossRefPubMed
9.
Aarts C, Kylberg E, Hornell A, Hofvander Y, Gebre-Medhin M, Greiner T: How exclusive is exclusive breastfeeding? A comparison of data since birth with current status data. Int J Epidemiol. 2000, 29: 1041-1046. 10.1093/ije/29.6.1041.CrossRefPubMed
10.
Ssenyonga R, Muwonge R, Nankya I: Towards a better understanding of exclusive breastfeeding in the era of HIV/AIDS: a study of prevalence and factors associated with exclusive breastfeeding from birth, in Rakai, Uganda. J Trop Pediatr. 2004, 50: 348-353. 10.1093/tropej/50.6.348.CrossRefPubMed
11.
Engebretsen IM, Wamani H, Karamagi C, Semiyaga N, Tumwine J, Tylleskar T: Low adherence to exclusive breastfeeding in Eastern Uganda: a community-based cross-sectional study comparing dietary recall since birth with 24-hour recall. BMC Pediatr. 2007, 7: 10-10.1186/1471-2431-7-10.PubMedCentralCrossRefPubMed
12.
Agampodi SB, Fernando S, Dharmaratne SD: Comparison of definitions used for exclusive breast feeding-the Labbock's strict definition and the WHO definition as methods of estimating exclusive breastfeeding rates in Sri Lanka. Ceylon Medical Journal. 2009, 54 (Suppl 1): 20-
13.
Agampodi SB, Agampodi TC, Piyaseeli UK: Breastfeeding practices in a public health field practice area in Sri Lanka: a survival analysis. Int Breastfeed J. 2007, 2: 13-10.1186/1746-4358-2-13.PubMedCentralCrossRefPubMed
14.
Agampodi SB, Fernando S, Dharmaratne SD: Prevalence of undesirable infant feeding practices in a rural community in Matale district- a preliminary analysis. Ceylon Medical Journal. 2009, 54 (suppl 1): 57-
15.
Agampodi SB, Agampodi TC: Effect of low cost public health staff training on exclusive breastfeeding. Indian J Pediatr. 2008, 75: 1115-1119. 10.1007/s12098-008-0185-4.CrossRefPubMed
Metadata
Title
Exclusive breastfeeding in Sri Lanka: problems of interpretation of reported rates
Authors
Suneth B Agampodi
Thilini C Agampodi
Avanthi de Silva
Publication date
01-12-2009
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
International Breastfeeding Journal / Issue 1/2009
Electronic ISSN: 1746-4358
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/1746-4358-4-14

Other articles of this Issue 1/2009

International Breastfeeding Journal 1/2009 Go to the issue

Review

Breastfeeding in China: a review

Research

The effect of maternal breast variations on neonatal weight gain in the first seven days of life

Research

Breastfeeding in Iran: prevalence, duration and current recommendations

Research

Impact of ritual pollution on lactation and breastfeeding practices in rural West Bengal, India

Research

Using milk flow rate to investigate milk ejection in the left and right breasts during simultaneous breast expression in women

Research

Exploring the impact of the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative on trends in exclusive breastfeeding