Cross-cultural differences in lactational performance

摘要: In 1974 the Dunn Nutrition Unit began parallel studies of lactational performance in rural village Keneba, The Gambia and affluent university city Cambridge, England. Our interest was focussed on lactation by fact that infants entered a period severe weight faltering at 2–3 months age when compared to standard growth curves1, this started before introduction weaning foods infectious diseases became common children. Waterlow2,3 reviewed number other from developing countries concluded they all showed similar pattern second or third month life. When viewed light Whitehead’s calculations average amount breast-milk produced well-nourished mother should be sufficient support her infant for 4–6 months, world suggested such children were receiving insufficient even first few life4,5. This conclusion reinforced published data milk intakes which striking difference between reported values exclusively breast-fed 3 (Figure 1). Although it recognised many very high obtained professional wet-nurses encouraged belief mean outputs excess 1 litre per day easily achievable well-fed women.