Infant care and feeding in an urban black population.

Health education programmes aimed at improving infant feeding must be developed from data on current practices and growth. Infants born in Pimville, Soweto, were traced when they were 6 weeks old and again at 6 months and their mothers and child-minders were interviewed. Length of tay in the area, breastfeeding and weaning intention and practice, age standard of education, understanding of Boston growth charts, and infant growth data were investigated. It is suggested that more specific health education programmes need to be developed and that community-based health workers need to be selected and trained to assist and support mothers in learning better feeding practices.