Children
Child rights action with informed and engaged societies
Children

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

Time to read
1 minute
Print
a- a+
Published 13 years ago
Last updated 3 years ago
Read so far

Obstetric and infant feeding practices in Punjab: effect of educational intervention

0 comments

Gupta, A. and R. Gupta (1992). "Obstetric and infant feeding practices in Punjab: effect of educational intervention." Indian Pediatrics 29(3): 333-335.

Methods and Results: A survey of obstetric and infant feeding practices in 100 mothers showed that only 17% infants were exclusively breast fed. Antenatal advice regarding breast feeding was given to only 13%. Sixty eight per cent infants were put to breast 24 hours after delivery. Campaign against bottle feeding was then launched. Fifteen months later, a survey on another 100 mothers showed that 44% infants were exclusively breast-fed, antenatal advice was given to 11% mothers and 60% mothers got active postnatal advice regarding disadvantages of bottle feeds. Incidence of exclusive breast feeding was more in infants who were roomed-in with the mother early, started on breast feeding earlier and whose mothers received antenatal advice. It was concluded that even if the percentage of antenatal advice did not improve, active postnatal campaign directed towards dangers of bottle feeding could increase the prevalence of exclusive breast feeding. 2 pediatricians in Delhi, India compared December 1987 data on 100 mothers of 6-month old infants (group I) with March-April 1989 data on 100 other mothers of 4-month old infants (group II) to examine the effect of a campaign against bottle feeding. The campaign consisted of local physicians viewing 2 videos on breast feeding, posting of antibottle feeding posters in almost all hospitals and pediatrician and obstetrician clinics, a lecture on appropriate and harmful infant feeding practices, and meetings with local obstetricians asking them to stop giving infants a bottle and formula. Even though all mothers had attended prenatal clinics, only 13% of group I mothers and 11% of group II mothers had received advice on breast feeding, and a physician or nurse advised women to bottle feed in about 50% of cases. Yet 60% of group II mothers received postnatal information on breast feeding and dangers of bottle feeding. 90% of group I infants had received bottle feedings at least once. At the time of the interview, group I mothers were exclusively breast feeding only 17% of their infants compared with 44% for group II mothers. 64% of group II infants moved into the mother's room within 2 hours of delivery. Mothers began to breast feed 51% of their infants within 24 hours. Rooming-in had a positive effect on exclusive breast feeding among group II infants. For example, 54.6% of those infants who roomed in with their mothers within 2 hours were exclusively breast fed compared with 25% of those who roomed in after 2 hours. 75% of infants who were exclusively breast fed were those who began breast feeding within 12 hours, 37% within 12-24 hours, and 32.6% after 24 hours. Only 2% of group II infants had received breast milk as their 1st feeding, but 90% received honey. The campaign did result in improved postnatal advice on breast feeding and a subsequent increase in the prevalence of breast feeding.