My understanding of the notion of 'number needed to treat' is that it is
part of a cost/benefit analysis.  It enables public health authorities to
decide whether an intervention (often some preventative measure) is
worthwhile.  Now, putting aside the very valid point that Rachel makes
(breastfeeding is NOT an intervention!) I would suggest that even where the
effect is small (and I am not sure that is the case here - I actually have
to agree with Jacqueline Wolf's observation that 'the shift from breast to
bottle essentially redifened 'normal' infant health' - so we see a whole
bunch of illness as normal when in fact, infants who are physiologically fed
do not suffer at anything like the same rate) the cost of breastfeeding
promotion is small (compared to the cost of artificial feeding) and so it is
a very cost effective measure.
Just a thought
Nina Berry BA/Bed(Hons) Dip Arts(Phil)
Breastfeeding Counsellor
PhD Candidate - "Ethical Issues in the marketing of 'Toddler Milks'"

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