WHY PROMOTE BREAST-FEEDING IN DIARRHEAL DISEASE-CONTROL PROGRAMS

The improvement of case management practices is the cornerstone of national programmes to control childhood diarrhoea and can lead to a rapid reduction in diarrhoeal mortality. There is, however, increasing interest in the development of interventions that can reduce diarrhoeal morbidity, especially in countries where case management activities are well established. The Diarrhoeal Disease Control Programme of the World Health Organization recommends that breastfeeding be promoted as one of the most important measures for preventing diarrhoea. There is now conclusive evidence that breastfeeding confers significant protection against illness and death associated with diarrhoea, and minimizes its adverse nutritional effects. Breastfeeding promotion has been demonstrated to be an efficient measure for preventing diarrhoea, and has many other important social, economic and health benefits. This paper summarizes the evidence and describes the Programme's ongoing and planned activities in support of efforts to promote breastfeeding.