Abstract

CASTILLO BELEN, Juan Ramón et al. Breast feeding and immunity: Social impact. MEDISAN [online]. 2009, vol.13, n.1. ISSN 1029-3019.

The use and disuse of breast feeding has been a controversial topic since remote times, as mud feeding bottles have been found in Roman children's graves, indicating that in the old world the artificial feeding was already used. The actions to promote breastfeeding are justified for the nutritional benefit of that maternal action for the newborn, the protection that implies for him against different illnesses for its recognized immune properties, the increase of the psychic well-being of the newborn and the mother, as well as the good stimulation to language in the early ages of life. Contrary to what is observed in other countries, the Cuban participation in the Program of the Hospital Friend of the Mother and the Child has contributed to decrease considerably the morbility and mortality rates due to very diverse causes in comparison with those concerning the highly industrialized nations.

Keywords : BREAST FEEDING; MILK,HUMAN; INFANT NUTRITION; IMMUNITY, MATERNALLY-ACQUIRED; FOOD AND NUTRITION EDUCATION; NUTRITION PROGRAMMES.

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