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After nearly 28 years, The Communication Initiative (The CI) Global is entering a new chapter. 

Following a period of transition, the global website has been transferred to the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) in South Africa, where it will be administered by the Social and Behaviour Change Communication Division. Wits' commitment to social change and justice makes it a trusted steward for The CI's legacy and future. 

On the transfer, co-founder Victoria Martin expressed her pleasure to see this work continue under Wits' leadership, knowing that co-founder Warren Feek (1953–2024) would have felt deep pride in The CI Global's Africa-led direction. 

As Wits, we honour the team and partners who sustained The CI for decades and look forward building from that strong base. This includes co-founders Warren Feek (1953-2024) and Victoria Martin as well as La Iniciativa de Comunicación (CILA), which continues independently at lainiciativadecomunicacion.com with links to The CI Global site. We are also eager to forge new partnerships and entertain new ideas as we consider how best to contribute to social and behaviour change in our rapidly evolving environment.

If you are joining the International Social and Behaviour Change Communication (SBCC) Summit in Panama, please join Wits and CILA on Monday, 22 June, to share your thoughts and suggestion for the relaunch of the Communication Initiative. We will be in Pacifica 5 from 12-1:25 for the Refuel, Reflect, and Renew Lunch Series: The Communication Initiative: celebrating a driving force for Communication for Social Change and the way forward. We will reflect on the legacy of Warren Feek and family in creating the Communication Initiative, consider the contributions of CI over the years and then turn our attention towards the future in this dynamic session. 

If you are unable to join us in Panama, we still want to hear from you. Please contribute your thoughts by following this link: https://redcap.link/CommunicationInitiative2026 or reaching out to ci_surveys@commint.com. 

You can also follow the QR Code:

 https://redcap.link/CommunicationInitiative2026

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Determinants of breastfeeding patterns among mothers in Anambra State, Nigeria

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Ukegbu, A. U., P. O. Ukegbu, et al. (2011). "Determinants of breastfeeding patterns among mothers in Anambra State, Nigeria." SAJCH South African Journal of Child Health 5(4): 112-116.

Objectives. Exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months of life is still rare among nursing mothers. This study aimed to identify the factors influencing breastfeeding practices among mothers in Anambra State, Nigeria.

Methods. A prospective cohort study was conducted in three comprehensive health centres of Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital (NAUTH), Anambra State, between September 2006 and June 2007. The breastfeeding practices of 228 nursing mothers were assessed at enrolment when attending the maternal and child welfare clinics for BCG immunisation, and at follow-up visits at 6, 10, 14, 20 and 24 weeks. In addition, four focus group discussion sessions (one in each centre) were held, involving a total of 35 nursing mothers.

Results. Most mothers 190 (83.3%) were aged between 20 and 34 years. The majority (208, 91.2%) had good or very good knowledge of breastfeeding. The main source of breastfeeding education was government health facilities (80.85%), but only 110 mothers (48.2%) initiated breastfeeding immediately (<1 hour) after delivery. The exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) rate fell from 143 (62.7%) at birth to 85 (37.3%) at 24 weeks. EBF was significantly associated with older maternal age, higher parity, delivery at a government facility, a positive family attitude towards EBF, and breastfeeding education from a government health facility (p<0.05). Focus group discussion showed that mothers believed that adequate nutrition and physical, financial and emotional support to them would increase EBF practice.

Conclusion. The rate of EBF was low among the mothers, and the factors identified that may influence its practice have important implications for breastfeeding intervention programmes. Activities to promote EBF should be focused on specific groups of women and locations in which it is poorly practised. In addition, support to the mothers is necessary.