Project Support Communications Newsletter • Information Division, UNICEF. New York, NT. 10017 The Promotion of Breastfeeding and Proper Weaning Practices in the Ivory Coast by Ute Deseniss, UNICEF—Abidjan "Do you have children?" "Yes, I have 29 children" that my wives breastfeed the children as long "Were they breastfed?" we asked a vigorous as possible, as I know it is important for the man of about fifty while pretesting the draft of children, especially baby boys, so that they will the breastfeeding poster at the National Social always come back to their mothers" Security Office in Abidjan, the capital of the It was interesting to note that all male re- Ivory Coast. spondents expressed their support for breast- 1 "Sure; he affirmed, "all my children were feeding while the reaction from female breastfed, and I will have more children, and respondents was quite different. This con- they will all be breastfed:' firmed the result of a survey which revealed He is a Muslim and has four wives. He works that only 0.7% of 421 children were bottle-fed as an accountant in a private enterprise in an due to the decision of the husband. inland town of the Ivory Coast. While looking This was part of the survey undertaken bv again at the poster, he continued, "It is good to the Ivorian National Public Health Institute see this African woman breastfeeding her baby. (INSP) from December 1981 to May 1982 in- This is something so natural, but people start vestigating the child feeding practices in and to forget it, and it may even disappear one day. around Abidjan. In collaboration with 20socio- So it is good to remind us not to give up our medical centres for MCH Care, the health traditions.' education team of the INSP examined the He read the text under the picture about the nutritional status of 2284 children and found advantages of breastfeeding and said, "I insisted that about 20.3% of them were malnourished. (Continued on page 2) Breastfeeding & Proper notice. This affected the campaign in the sense that it lacked a logical Weaning Practices progression. Nevertheless the public became aware of the importance of breast- feeding. Several times we witnessed (Continued from page 1) people making remarks like: "...at least now we have proof that breast- According to the survey, 96% of UNICEF staff, particularly the Re- feeding is the best for the baby." the examined children were breast- gional Nutrition and PSC Advisers, The campaign aimed at a nation- fed for about six months. Malnutri- became more and more involved. wide sensitization about the advan- tion before six months was only This was especially true in the con- tages of breastfeeding It did not about 8.3%.This proves that breast- ception and preparation of the two intend to frustrate mothers who can- milk is the most appropriate food for posters and booklets The WHO and not fully breastfeed because they babies for the first six months. Mal- UNICEF Representatives in the Ivory have to work to earn a living, or nutrition increased to 17.6% for the Coast were interviewed on TV on the attend classes.To deal with the prob- one-year olds and to 33.9% for the 12 breastfeeding code, and the Regional lem of working mothers, the training to 17-month-olds.This is due to a Information Officer had at prime of the nounous (nannies), who look rather late introduction of supple- time an exclusive interview on the "B" after the babies while the mothers go mentary food. Indeed, children in of UNICEF's GOBI (Growth Monitor- to work, is considered as one of the the Ivory Coast are weaned on the ing, Oral Rehydration Therapy, follow-up activities of the campaign. average between the age of 11 and 15 Breastfeeding, Immunization)! In general these nounous are young months, varying from one ethnic During the second phase of the girls without any schooling.They are group to another. On the basis of this campaign, the Regional Nutrition mostly members of the extended survey, the CMSP decided to carry out Adviser contributed to the National family of the children that they look a nutrition education programme, Child Nutrition Workshop on after. They come from the village starting with a nationwide sensitiza- Growth Monitoring, and the Re- attracted by the city life. Unfortu- tion campaign for the revalorization gional PSC Officer demonstrated nately, research showed that only of breastfeeding and proper wean- educational techniques on Oral Re- 20% of these nounous know how to ing practices based on local food hydration Therapy. prepare infant formula correctly. products. It is too early at this stage to say The training approach agreed on is The campaign, which was launched anything definite about the impact to first make an inventory of their on television by the Ministry of Pub- of the campaign. An evaluation is educational needs, and then prepare lic Health and Population on 4 April planned for the second half of 1984. the training package. Personnel from 1983, lasted until the end of 1983. It However, there is no doubt that the Social Centres and MCH Centres will was divided into two parts.The first campaign had at least succeeded in visit spots where nounous usually sit part, lasting until the end of July raising awareness.The breastfeeding together and talk in the afternoon, 1983, dealt exclusively with breast- theme became a regular feature in with the babies in their arms or on feeding The second part, from Octo- the media The posters were hung up their backs, or crawling on the floor. ber to December 1983, emphasized not only in MCH Centres, but also in These leisurely moments offer appropriate weaning practices. public places. Even while waiting for opportunities for educating the All kinds of communications the bus, people's attention was nounous on appropriate infant for- media, such as TV, radio, newspaper, drawn to the breastfeeding poster mula preparation, hygiene, weaning poster, booklet, and popular song, placed on the back of the buses. practices, first aid, etc. were used in the campaign.The INSP The campaign was probably With reference to weaning, special contacted UNICEF for funds to cover biased towards the urban audience. activities on family nutrition educa- the production costs of the posters, All programmes, except a few radio tion are envisaged. Malnutrition of booklets, and the expenses for a broadcasts, were in French.There children is often a consequence of health education workshop for its was also too much dependence on the mother's ignorance of a balanced paramedical staff working in the TV, which was not very reliable as diet, and not necessarily a problem of MCH Centres. programmes could be cancelled and means.Thus the weaning poster ex In the course of the cooperation, schedules changed without prior (Continued on page 3) ICuntimird f)-<im /wgr 2) also has to lie questioned. with the encouragement and sup- plirilly showed fond for body build- Mi'n ran play an important role in port that they need. An appropriate ing, foi strength,and for protection. tht1 promotion and protection ul family nutrition education pro- The tradition ol serving food to \wv.n breastfeeding and proper weaning grarniiK! is prohahly a g(«)d starter lo before the other familv members practices by providing their \vi\os get the men involved. A PARTIR DE 5 MOIS EN PIUS DU SEIN... JE LUI DONNE CHAQUE JOUR aamwb Un aliment de croissance Un aliment de force Un aliment de protection Starting from the fifth month, in addition to hrcnstmilk, I givr him ovrryday food for body building, for strength, and for protection. Cloth Posters ifydjJ^jJJi cP*l QOO UWM THrtt WHO ^3u%r#W LJCJILVI^^ L&&&V >H put In 1 html full JaAJkh/* <UttJ NWM Me. m»n put in 1 pinens wflftfluUfCool th« •iwtur* cof iint of DlarrhMa La % * iW (tiJl^Jt^w^M ------ -^•-•n Cloth posters in support of the Baluchistan Integrated Area Development (BIAD) Programme printed locally using the silk-screen printing technique. For more information on the Communication aspect of the BIAD Programme, write to Dr. Pamela Hunte, UNICEF Sub-Office, 80-B, E-5, Satellite Town, Quetta, Pakistan. Pakistan: ORT Promotion !^s%ggg^a=% Messages for Community Education 1- If not treated immediately, di- too much water.These are signs arrhoea can be dangerous.Vour 19. Cover your food to protect it of danger. from flies and dirt. Your baby's child can die from diarrhoea. 10. When you see t he danger signs, 2. If your child passes three or food must be kept clean or he rush your child to the health will get diarrhoea. more loose watery stools in a centre day, he has diarrhoea. 20. Keep your home clean, espe- 11. Take your child to the health cially the floor. Your children 3. Diarrhoea is dangerous. Much centre if he has diarrhoea and water is lost. Diarrhoea brings play on the floor and will get you cannot feel his pulse.Take diarrhoea from dirt there. malnutrition. him if he keeps vomiting. Take 4. Sometimes a child with diar- 21. Build a latrine if you can Let him if he absolutely refuses to the whole family use it. rhoea starts vomiting. This drink. Always try to feed Elaj-e- speeds up water loss, and the 22. Have your child immunized Julab on the way there. against the worst diseases. You danger is greater. 12. If diarrhoea is only mild, keep 5. When your child has diarrhoea, must go three times. Immuni- on giving Elaj-e-Julab to your zation is free.