Breastfeeding as an intervention within diarrheal diseases control programs: WHO/CDD activities.

The Control of Diarrhoeal Diseases Programme (CDD) at the World Health Organization (WHO) is looking at ways to prevent diarrhea and has identified breastfeeding as an important factor. CDD is studying the protective effects of exclusive breastfeeding and the morbidity and mortality risks for infants exclusively, partially, or not breastfed. CDD has identified trials of interventions for breastfeeding promotion and the evaluation of approaches for the implementation of tested interventions among its research priorities. CDD also has included breastfeeding promotion information in modules in its two management training courses. The Programme plans to monitor the effectiveness of the training and develop future activities based on that feedback.