Leslie B. Marshall

Infant feeding and infant illness in a Micronesian village

The 49 infants born over a 2-year period in a single community in Truk, Micronesia, were studied in 1976 in order to determine the influence of current infant feeding practices on infant morbidity. Only 9 of the 49 infants were exclusively breastfed in their first year of life, and 20 were weaned completely from breast to bottle during their first 6 months. Very few mothers intended to breastfeed after the second year. 40 of the 49 babies received semisolid foods in the first 6 months. By early in the second year most children were eating normal adult diets. Most mothers were familiar with the procedures of proper bottle and formula care, but poor sanitary conditions, lack of refrigeration and inadequate supervision of older siblings made proper care difficult. Hospital records and parental reports indicate that almost all children in the sample experienced minor ailments at least occasionally in their first year. Although the sample size is too small for tests of significance, it is apparent that a much higher proportion of infants were seriously ill when exclusively bottle fed than when exclusively breast fed. All the children hospitalized within 8 weeks of birth had experienced either supplementary or complete bottlefeeding.

Breasts, bottles and babies: Historical changes in infant feeding practices in a Micronesian village

In an effort to study changes in modes of infant feeding over time, the mothers of 375 children born in a Micronesian village during the past 50 years were interviewed regarding their infant feeding practices. The 83 women residents in Peniyesene village in March 1976, who had borne children while residing on Moen Island, were interviewed in their homes. During the 1945-1975 period, use of commercial formula increased steadily, while breastfeeding declined, age at weaning from breast decreased, and consumption of milk by 1-2 year-olds increased. In the 1970s these trends accelerated. Prior to 1940 the use of powdered or evaporated milk was introduced into the Truk District. Educational level and employment history of the mother were significantly associated with bottlefeeding. Convenience was the most commonly reported reason for bottlefeeding. The course of infant feeding practices in the village appeared to have been affected by historical factors which are reviewed.

Symposium†: Wage employment and infant feeding: A Papua New Guinea case‡

Ninety‐seven nurses and aides who were mothers and full‐time staff at public health care facilities in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, were interviewed about their infant feeding practices, opinions on bottle‐feeding and arrangements for childcare. Only 29% of their 260 children were bottlefed even partially. No statistically significant changes in their feeding practices occurred in 1977, when legislation was passed to make feeding bottles more difficult to obtain. A statistically significant association was found between return to work by six months postpartum and use of supplementary bottles, although a majority of mothers breastfed during nursing breaks or had the caretaker give milk in a cup or solids. Twelve percent used a wet nurse occasionally. Mean age at sevrage for the youngest child was 21 months; fluid in a cup and beikost (weaning food) were usually introduced at 3–4 months. Lactation insufficiency was rarely reported during the first six months postpartum. Bottlefeeding was viewed as approp...

Breastfeeding and its alternatives among Papua New Guinea career women. An issue in economic development

One of the contributions women make to household and national economies is production of breastmilk; yet exclusive breastfeeding may compete with womens other productive activities — especially rigidly scheduled activities away from home. Interviews with 97 public health nurses, 40 public school teachers and 21 university students — all indigenous Papua New Guinea mothers resident in the national capital — were completed. The interviews focused on their strategies for feeding their infants while continuing their careers. The data indicated that the prevalence and duration of breastfeeding were unusually high among these women compared to wage‐employed women surveyed in other countries. Supplementation with commercial milk, juices and solids began in the first six months postpartum. Over half the women had returned to work or classes in the first three months postpartum; nearly all listed this return as the primary reason for leaving their infant regularly. Use of a feeding bottle was statistically associ...