Thus, there is reason for optimism regarding the potential for an improvement of infant-feeding practices that will accelerate the already falling infant and preschool child mortality rates in most developing countries. The mother's decision is a personal one to be respected as a right, not to be usurped by civil authorities, legislation, or patronizing attitudes of others. Restrictions that discriminate against the poor mother contribute to the multiple factors enmeshing her and her family in an all-encompassing web of continuing deprivation. From this brief analysis, the following conclusions emerge. Two major problems are associated with infant-feeding practices in developing countries.
Recent attention tends to focus only on the second.
For the great majority of infants who are breast-fed from birth for more or less extended periods, nutritional problems generally do not arise until complementary feeding is required sometime after the first few months of life. These problems require different approaches, and exclusive attention to the second can exacerbate the first. Educational programmes are needed to assist mothers and others caring for children in knowing how to select and prepare weaning foods from sources already a part of the family diet, or otherwise readily obtainable. Culturally appropriate, locally produced weaning foods should be available at the lowest practical cost, particularly for urban populations. Early breast-feeding requires vigorous promotion.