term injury, include the rubella and cytomegaly virus, and especially 3. INFLUENCES IN INFANCY AND CHILDHOOD malaria infection during pregnancy, which is probably the biggest cause of low birth weight worldwid 3.1 Breast-feeding Reducing disease in the newborn through Protein-energy malnutrition in childhood is common in developing countries and in poorer communities of industrialised countries availability of adequate screening programmes, both pre- and post- Breastfeeding is an effective, low-cost intervention to reduce mainutri- natal, for all pregnant women and their families tion in infancy and childhood. Breastmilk provides ideal nourishment, and protects against infections and allergies, promotes mother/child there s long-term follow-up for those with congenital disease and bonding, and may reduce the development of malabsorpti n synario- e providing information about the risks of toxic substances and the But there is also evidence, that exclusive breast-feeding beyond the age mode of transmission of infectious diseases, which may be hazardous of 6 months may not supply adequate energy to babies, and solid foods to the unborn child. Smoking prevention and cessation programmes should be added to the baby s diet. Infants should be fed exclusively on should be particularly targeted at women breast milk from birth to 4 to 6 months of age; that is, they should be given no other liquids or solids other than breast milk, not even water, promotion of universal immunisation against rubella for girls and for during this period. Continuing to breastfeed up to two years of age or usceptible women beyond, in addition to giving adequate complementary foods, helps to maintain adequate nutritional status and prevents diarrhoea Bibliography 1. Barker DJP Mothers, Babies and Health in Later Life. Churchill Despite this knowledge breast-feeding is not sufficiently encouraged at Livingston, Edinburgh, London, New York 1998 present WHO figures indicate that only 35%of all infants worldwide are exclusively breast fed between birth and 4 months of age 2. Frankel S, Elwood P, Sweetnam P, Yarnell ], Davey Smith G Birthweight, body mass index in middle-age, and incident coronary Increasing rates of breast feeding by heart disease. Lancet 1996: 348: 1 encouraging breast feeding among mothers throughe world 3. The World Health Report 1997. World Health Organization by training health workers who take care of women and infants, on Geneva, 1997 breastfeeding counselling and lactation management sing the media to promote community support for breastfeeding Breastmilk Substitutes and enforcing compliance where adopte7 term injury, include the rubella and cytomegaly virus, and especially malaria infection during pregnancy, which is probably the biggest cause of low birth weight worldwide. Reducing disease in the newborn through l availability of adequate screening programmes, both pre- and post￾natal, for all pregnant women and their families l ensuring long-term follow-up for those with congenital disease and their families l providing information about the risks of toxic substances and the mode of transmission of infectious diseases, which may be hazardous to the unborn child. Smoking prevention and cessation programmes should be particularly targeted at women l promotion of universal immunisation against rubella for girls and for susceptible women Bibliography 1. Barker DJP. Mothers, Babies and Health in Later Life. Churchill Livingston, Edinburgh, London, New York 1998. 2. Frankel S, Elwood P, Sweetnam P, Yarnell J, Davey Smith G. Birthweight, body mass index in middle-age, and incident coronary heart disease. Lancet 1996; 348: 1478-80. 3. The World Health Report 1997. World Health Organization, Geneva, 1997. 3. INFLUENCES IN INFANCY AND CHILDHOOD 3.1 Breast-feeding Protein-energy malnutrition in childhood is common in developing countries and in poorer communities of industrialised countries. Breastfeeding is an effective, low-cost intervention to reduce malnutri￾tion in infancy and childhood. Breastmilk provides ideal nourishment, and protects against infections and allergies, promotes mother/child bonding, and may reduce the development of malabsorption syndro￾mes. But there is also evidence, that exclusive breast-feeding beyond the age of 6 months may not supply adequate energy to babies, and solid foods should be added to the baby’s diet. Infants should be fed exclusively on breast milk from birth to 4 to 6 months of age; that is, they should be given no other liquids or solids other than breast milk, not even water, during this period. Continuing to breastfeed up to two years of age or beyond, in addition to giving adequate complementary foods, helps to maintain adequate nutritional status and prevents diarrhoea. Despite this knowledge breast-feeding is not sufficiently encouraged at present. WHO figures indicate that only 35% of all infants worldwide are exclusively breast fed between birth and 4 months of age. Increasing rates of breast feeding by l encouraging breast feeding among mothers throughout the world, by training health workers who take care of women and infants, on breastfeeding counselling and lactation management l Using the media to promote community support for breastfeeding l promoting legislation compatible with the Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes and enforcing compliance where adopted