Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #110672

Ketsana Chan, MD, Child Health, The Reproductive and Child Health Alliance, House #160, Street 71, Tonle Bassac, Chamkar Mon, Phnom Penh, Cambodia, (855-23) 213-724, cketsana@racha.org.kh and Sophirum Ing, MD, Provincial Health Department, Bantey Meanchey, House No. 160, Street 71, Chamkarmorn, Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

While much is known about the benefits of breastfeeding, promotion of breastfeeding practices is still difficult. In Cambodia, percentage of early initiation of and exclusive breastfeeding are very low: 10% start in the first hour of life and 18% exclusively breastfeed infants < 2 months old. Since 2000, Reproductive and Child Health Alliance (Racha) worked with Buddhist nuns and wat (temple) grannies (N&WG) in promoting proper breastfeeding practices. Both groups are highly respected and exert great influence on the beliefs and behavior of Cambodians. More than 2,500 N&WGs have been trained as volunteers to disseminate information to mothers on breastfeeding practices. While N&WGs were being tapped on health education, their impact has not yet been evaluated. Brigham Young University (BYU), Utah, in partnership with Racha, is conducting a longitudinal study to assess the impact of nuns and wat grannies as agents of change on mothers' knowledge, attitudes and practices towards breastfeeding. The study compares Racha intervention sites (with N&WGs) to control sites (without). A baseline assessment was carried out among mothers with children less than six months of age. The initial results revealed that women in intervention sites exclusively breastfeed their children more than in the control site. Nevertheless, several confounding factors were also identified. Follow-up assessments will be performed annually (2005 assessment available in November) until five years and will consider these factors in analyzing the impact of N&WGs in breastfeeding practices of women in Cambodia.

Learning Objectives:

• Participant will be able to identify, in their own setting, agents of change in promoting proper breastfeeding practices.

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.