BREAST FEEDING TRENDS AND RECENT INFORMATION ACTIVITIES IN SWEDEN

Abstract

The practice of breast feeding declined steadily in Sweden from the 1930''s up to the early 1970''s. This may be linked to the changing role of women, the development towards the nuclear family, the changing way of living, the influence of strict routines at the maternity hospitals and many other factors. A committee was appointed in 1973 by the National Board of Health and Welfare, which initiated a number of breast feeding promoting activites: editing a manual for health personnel and booklets for mothers; arranging workshops for key personnel in each county; stimulating more flexible maternity routines that favor breast feeding and backing working groups such as La Leche League, etc. Coinciding with these activities, and probably a result of changed breast feeding attitudes among mothers, the breast feeding rate has increased considerably.sbd.at 2 mo. from an all time low of 31% in 1972 to 62% in 1976/77, and at 6 mo. from 6% to 20%.