Breast-milk and the world protein gap.

Abstract

The importance of breast-milk especially in tropical areas is disc ussed. Breast-feeding has been on the decline in the Western world due to influences paralleling urbanization and sophistication. Under average conditions in most developing countries artificial feeding is hazardous for reasons for expense hygiene and education. In all parts of the world breast-feeding has certain advantages but one of the greatest advantages in tropical countries is that it provides a rich economically irreplaceable source of good quality protein. Consequences of breast-feeding decline include an increasing incidence and mortality from truly infantile malnutrition and adverse effects on limited economics and food production. In order to reverse the trend away from breast-feeding it is suggested that: 1) the status of breast-feeding be raised; 2) health education be provided to school girls prenatal and antenatal mothers; 3) legislation be enacted for working mothers in tropical towns so that creches might be provided at factories; and 4) unsuitable advertizing be controlled. It is concluded that the decline in lactation in developing regions is a priority public health nutrition problem that tends to widen the world protein-gap both be removing an existing protein food and by requiring a replacement.