Breast feeding in Cape Town.

An interview survey of infant feeding practices was conducted among the mothers of 126 infants, aged 3-4 1/2 months, attending local authority clinics in two subeconomic residential areas of Cape Town. It was found that while at 1 month only 19% of the infants were wholly bottle-fed, at the age of 3-4 1/2 months this proportion was 60%, and only 14% were fully breast-fed. The factors found to be significantly associated with the cessation of breast feeding were young maternal age and maternal employment. A downward trend in the prevalence of breast feeding continues--despite the efforts of health services. Recommendations to promote breast feeding are made.