"Infant mortality due to improper breastfeeding: report"
Arly, you asked:
"What can the editor have been thinking? Is this a simple error in
translation, or an attempt to shock the public and increase readership?"
I think this headline may appear bizarre and shocking to readers in the USA,
where breastfeeding is not the cultural norm. But in India, where
breastfeeding still is the norm, I would guess that the typical reader
'gets' the meaning that is discussed in the article, which is 'Babies die
because they don't get exclusive breastfeeding or are weaned too soon.'
India is one of the few countries whose national laws are in full compliance
with the WHO Code. The Indian Pediatric Society is a model for the world,
having a policy of not taking money from formula companies. The BPNI,
Breastfeeding Promotion Network of India, could teach advocates in other
countries a great deal about how to organize advocacy work--they have to
reach 1 billion people who speak dozens of languages, many of whom are
illiterate!
I do have one quibble with the headline, but I think it too is a cultural
thing. Actually, I'm not happy seeing the word "proper" associated with any
aspect of breastfeeding. We see it used a lot in the USA where people talk
about "proper latch-on." I prefer the word "effective," since to me "proper"
has Vicotrian overtones of "acceptable public behavior," instead of
referring to behavior or skills that facilitate the normal physical
interaction of mother and child.
I think I'd favor "inadequate" for this headline: "Infant mortality due to
inadequate breastfeeding..."
Communication is Soooo important, isn't it?
Chris
Chris Mulford, RN, IBCLC
LLL Leader Reserve
working for WIC in South Jersey (Eastern USA)
Co-coordinator, Women & Work Task Force, WABA
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