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A prospective cohort study of 1,520 mothers from Zhejiang province of China was undertaken to determine the duration of breastfeeding and associated factors during the first six months postpartum. Most (95.3%) mothers had introduced complementary foods by six months, making them at risk from contaminated infant formula. The mean duration of'any breastfeeding' was greater than 180 days but only 48 days for 'exclusive breastfeeding'. Factors relating to cessation of any breastfeeding were maternal age, timing of the breastfeeding decision, admission of the infant to a special-care nursery, return of the mother to work, the early introduction of water and/or other complementary foods, and their location of residence. The introduction of infant formula before three months was positively associated with the late decision to breastfeed, births in city, and infants being given a prelacteal feed. To combat the melamine disaster, strategies to improve the duration of breastfeeding must be developed taking these factors into account. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stroke is a life-changing event. It has been estimated that 15-30% of stroke patients become permanently disabled. Ischemic stroke accounts for approximately 60% of all stroke cases in China and will significantly increase the health burden because of the aging population. Effective primary prevention strategies are clearly required. In this article, dietary modifications that could play an important role in ischemic stroke prevention for the Chinese population are reviewed. These factors include the promotion of tea drinking, increasing consumption of soy foods, dairy products and fruits, as well as smoking cessation and reductions in salt intake and rice-based foods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the consumption level, beverage preference and factors affecting alcohol intake by Japanese COPD patients. Three hundred patients diagnosed with COPD within the past four years were recruited from six hospitals in central Japan and interviewed. Of the 278 eligible participants (244 men and 34 women), 61.5% of male and 23.5% of female patients drank alcohol regularly on at least a monthly basis. The most preferred alcoholic beverage was beer (30.9%). The overall mean alcohol consumption was 29.7 (SD 42.5) g/day but drinkers had much higher mean intake of 52.2 (SD 44.8) g/day. Alcohol consumption level was significantly associated with the habit of adding soy sauce to food, gender and dyspnea but not the smoking status. The high alcohol consumption by COPD patients is alarming, with drinkers drinking well exceeded the government's recommended limit of 20g daily. Alcohol control programs targeting male patients should be promoted to minimise the harm due to excessive drinking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alcohol enters breastmilk by passive diffusion and levels are reflected in maternal blood within 30 to 60 minutes of ingestion. If not timed appropriately, drinking alcohol throughout the period of lactation can negatively impact on lactation performance and the mental development of the infant. The aim of this study was to explore the drinking patterns of pregnant, lactating and other Australian women of child bearing age using the 1995 and 2001 National Health Survey Confidentialised Unit Record Files. Alcohol consumption was categorised according to Guideline 11 from the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) current Australian Alcohol Guidelines, which state that if pregnant or lactating women choose to drink, over a week, they should have fewer than 7 standard drinks. Despite a low intake by most pregnant and lactating women from both surveys, approximately 16.4% and 1.3% (95% Confidence Interval (CI) 7.0-23.2) of pregnant women from the 1995 and 2001 NHS respectively, and 13% and 16.8% (95% CI -6.5--1.1) of lactating mothers from the 1995 NHS and 2001 NHS respectively, were drinking above this national guideline. There were significantly more pregnant women in the 1995 NHS, and lactating women in the 2001 NHS, exceeding this recommendation. Pregnancy and lactation are vulnerable times of infant growth and development. There is a definite need in Australia for improved antenatal, and maternal and child health programs that address this significant public health issue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The Western Australian Health Department's Go for 2&5 campaign aimed to increase adults' awareness of the need to eat more fruit and vegetables and encourage increased consumption of one serving over five years.Design: The multi-strategy fruit and vegetable social marketing campaign, conducted from 2002 to 2005, included mass media advertising (television, radio, press and point-of-sale), public relations events, publications, a website (www.gofor2and5.com), and school and community activities. Campaign development and the evaluation framework were designed using health promotion theory, and assessed values, beliefs, knowledge and behaviour. Two independent telephone surveys evaluated the campaign: the Campaign Tracking Survey interviewed 5032 adults monitoring fruit and vegetable attitudes, beliefs and consumption prior to, during and 12 months after the campaign; and the Health & Wellbeing Surveillance System surveyed 17,993 adults between 2001 and 2006, continuously monitoring consumption.Setting: Population public health intervention-social marketing campaign in Western Australia, population of 2,010,113 in 2005.Subjects: Adults in the Perth metropolitan area.Results: The campaign reached the target audience, increasing awareness of the recommended servings of fruit and vegetables. There was a population net increase of 0.8 in the mean number of servings of fruit and vegetables per day over three years (0.2 for fruit (1.6 in 2002 to 1.8 in 2005) and 0.6 for vegetables (2.6 in 2002 to 3.2 in 2005), significant at P < 0.05).Conclusion: Sustained, well-executed social marketing is effective in improving nutrition knowledge, attitudes and consumption behaviour. The Go for 2&5 campaign provides guidance to future nutrition promotion through social marketing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To investigate the internal validity of a food-frequency questionnaire (FFQ) developed for a case-control study of prostate cancer in southeast China.Design: A comprehensive questionnaire comprising a quantitative FFQ and a short food habit questionnaire (SFHQ) was developed and modified from previous cancer and nutritional studies. The Goldberg formula (ratio of energy intake (EI) to basal metabolic rate (BMR), EI/BMR) was used to assess the validity of the FFQ by making comparisons with physical activity levels. Physical activity levels were measured by the estimated total metabolic equivalents (MET) and the ratio of energy expenditure (EE) to BMR (EE/BMR). Correlation analyses were undertaken to compare the SFHQ variables with those of the quantitative FFQ.Setting: Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China.Subjects: A total of 404 men over 45 years old with or without prostate cancer were recruited from eight hospitals.Results: The partial correlation coefficients, controlling for age and family history of prostate cancer, were moderate to high (P<0.05) for preserved foods intake, fat consumption and tea drinking variables between the SFHQ and the quantitative FFQ. The average EI/BMR was 1.72, with 76% of subjects exceeding the Goldberg cut-off value of 1.35. Apart from weight, BMI, EE/BMR and MET, there were no significant differences in characteristics between low (<1.35) and normal EI/BMR groups.Conclusions: The FFQ is demonstrated to be a valid instrument to measure energy and food intake for elderly men in southeast China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To assess the prevalence of anaemia in rural Vietnam and to determine its risk factors.Design: A cross-sectional survey.Setting: Vietnam, Nghe An Province.Study Population: The total number of participants was 439. Of these participants, one was excluded from the study due to a mental disorder. Forty-seven did not participate in the test for parasites and 68 did not complete at least one of the questions.Results: The prevalence of anaemia (haemoglobin (Hb) <11.0 g dl(-1)) was 43.2% and of severe anaemia (Hb <8.0 g dl(-1)) was 0.5%. Taking iron tablets, the consumption of eggs and the preference for Western medicine significantly and positively correlated with Hb concentration in the pregnant women in a multiple regression analysis. Pregnancy duration and hookworm infestation significantly and negatively correlated with Hb concentration in the pregnant women.Conclusion: The prevalence of anaemia in rural Vietnam has remained as high as that found in the national anaemia survey in 2000. The results of the present study could aid in the development of an iron-deficiency anaemia programme among pregnant women in rural Vietnam that emphasises iron supplementation, parasite control and improved diet, including the consumption of eggs. The programme's focus should be on women who prefer traditional medicine to Western medicine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study aimed to document the infant feeding practices of Chinese-Australian mothers in their home countries and following migration to Australia. The factors that influenced infant feeding practices are also described.Design: A cross-sectional survey.Subjects: A sample of 506 Mandarin-speaking mothers with at least one child, who were born outside of Australia, resident in the Perth area and aged between 23 and 59 years.Setting: Community-based household telephone interviews in Perth, Western Australia.Statistical analysis: Chi square-statistics was used to test the differences in the rates and factors influencing infant feeding practices between mothers' home countries and Australia.Results: There were no significant differences between any breastfeeding rates among Chinese women delivering in either their home countries where breastfeeding initiation was 86.6% or in Australia. Full breastfeeding rates at three and six months for Chinese women were lower than recent Australian rates. Chinese women delivering in Australia received more breastfeeding support and assistance from health professionals. In Australia, 78% stated that they received support form their doctors and nurses for breastfeeding compared with 37.6% in their home countries (P < 0.001). In particular, they were more likely to have put their infant to the breast immediately after birth (47.9%) compared with women delivering in their home countries (4.1%) (P < 0.001). Solid foods were introduced earlier in their home countries.Conclusion: The Chinese-Australian mothers' infant feeding practices in Australia reflected both Western and Eastern influences. The Chinese mothers introduced complementary foods earlier than in other Australian studies, suggesting that culturally specific programs will be needed to encourage exclusive breastfeeding to six months. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To investigate the initiation of breast-feeding and exclusive breast-feeding within the first week after delivery for women in rural Vietnam.Design: An interviewer-administered survey was conducted on a sample of rural women who gave birth during August-October 2002.Setting: Quang Xuong District, Thanh Hoa Province of Vietnam.Subjects: Four hundred and sixty-three women participated in the study, of whom 181 delivered at the district hospital (39.1%), 229 at a commune health centre (49.5%) and 53 at home attended by a traditional birth attendant (11.4%).Results: Although the initiation and exclusive breast-feeding rates were relatively high at 98.3% and 83.6% respectively, the premature introduction of complementary food was a great concern. Logistic regression analysis showed that, together with socio-cultural determinants such as feeding preferences of the husband and maternal grandmother, feeding practices of friends, factors relating to delivery methods, delivery locations and health problems could influence the initiation rate and breast-feeding patterns.Conclusions: To promote breast-feeding practices of rural mothers, health education on breast-feeding should take into account local socio-cultural features in addition to improving the counselling skills of health workers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To identify determinants of the initiation and duration of breastfeeding by Chinese Australian mothers, a cross-sectional survey of 506 Mandarin-speaking women in Perth, Western Australia, was conducted. Doctors' support of breastfeeding was positively associated with the initiation of breastfeeding both in the mothers' home countries (odds ratio [OR], 9.94; 95% confidence interval [CI], 3.17-31.18) and in Australia (OR, 16.78; 95% CI, 7.12-39.55) and with duration. Mother's level of education was positively associated with the initiation of breastfeeding in the mother's home country (OR, 3.04; 95% CI, 1.36-6.80) and positively associated with the duration of breastfeeding both in the mother's home country and Australia. Father's preference for breastfeeding was positively associated with the initiation of breastfeeding of the mother giving birth in Australia (OR, 4.96; 95% CI, 1.93-12.66). Health professionals can provide invaluable support for mothers initiating and continuing breastfeeding in this population. Prenatal education also needs to emphasize the ways in which fathers can support and contribute to breastfeeding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A prospective study of 556 women from Perth, Western Australia, and 503 women from the Darling Downs area, Queensland, Australia, was conducted to identify factors associated with the abandonment of breastfeeding prior to hospital discharge. In total, 88% of women initiated breastfeeding, but 5% discontinued breastfeeding while still in the hospital. Discontinuation of breastfeeding prior to discharge was associated with a number of psychosocial factors, namely, infant feeding method being chosen after becoming pregnant, a perception by the mother that the infant's father either preferred formula feeding or was ambivalent about how the infant was fed, and whether the mother's own mother had ever breastfed. Judicious questioning prenatally regarding a woman's commitment to, social support for, and prior exposure to breastfeeding will help identify those women most at risk of abandoning breastfeeding prematurely. Such women should be targeted for additional support while in the hospital. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]