Indian J Pediat 50 : 343, 1983

Book Review

Breast feeding in practice by Elisabet Helsing and F Savageking. Oxford University Press, New York, Toronto, 1982. Price Rs 45 pages 271.

With industrial revolution, the breast feeding has declined all over the world. Most of the mothers in the western world started working in factories and offices for increasing their income. Secondly the food industry advertised heavily in favour of bottle feeding. Even the educated mothers rapidly lost confidence in their ability to feed the babies. Developing world was also not far behind, as mother in these countries blindly copied their counter- parts in the developed countries. Dec- line in breast feeding has substantially increased the prevalence of protein energy malnutrition and infections with the resultant high morbidity and mor- tality. In addition to the economic factors many other advantages have been recognised, like spacing of children, family planning, better psychological relationship between mother and child and most important of these the immunological factors of breast milk that offer protection against several infections and probably allergic reac- tions.

This is a timely book meant primarily for health workers but useful for other health personnel as well. Authors have included their years of experience in Asia, Europe and Africa. Physiology of breast feeding and common problem of feeding the babies of different gestation

and ages are adequately dealt with. par- ticularly in reference to low birth weight babies and severely ill infants. This book will be a useful guide for health workers. But most of our para medical

�9 staff donot know English and therefore may not benefit much from such book. Local translations if available are highly desirable. This book is also recommend for medical professional engaged in the welfare of mother and child health.

New Delhi IT. P. Choudhry

First year of life by Graham Curtis Jenkins and Richard C.F. Newton. Churchill Livingstone Publication, Edinburgh. Price. s 8.50 pages 278.

In the last several years understand- ing of the growing child has greatly im- proved. Events at birth and during the first year of life lay the foundation of all that follow in the future. This book promotes the understanding of the grow- ing child within the context of the family and the society. It also describes the interaction of the child with environ- ment along with the short resume of management of various disorders and dysfunctions which are very vital to the individual. Breast feeding of the in- fants has been rightly stressed. Preven- tive aspects and antenatal diagnosis of various preventable conditions have been described in depth. This book should be ready by all family doctors and residents.

New Delhi V.P. Choudhry