In following the thread about IBCLC as a profession, I found myself wondering
exactly where in the world are there any breastfeeding cultures?  One may
suggest Africa but not many countries in Africa have women that exclusively
breastfeed their infants--especially in cities of Africa.  The Coutsaudis et
al. study shows us that very few women in South Africa exclusively breastfeed
without counseling interventions.  So it may depend on how we define a
breastfeeding culture.  Africa may be doing better than the USA as far as
breastfeeding because it is expected that women breastfeed (although health
care polices on hiv/aids will surely change that attitude to be more in
alignment with the American view of breastfeeding).  But I think I would not
define most African nations as breastfeeding cultures.  The baby food
manufacturers have seen to it that such cultures are virtually non-existent.
If we define a breastfeeding culture as a culture that expects most women to
do some breastfeeding, then we can say that yes we need breastfeeding
professionals in a "breastfeeding culture."  But the whole idea is dependent
on one's definition of breastfeeding culture.  My partial description of a
breastfeeding culture would be one in which most infants were exclusively
breastfed for the first 6 months of their lives.  I think very few, if any,
cultures in the world are breastfeeding cultures.  And if they exist, there
are no breastfeeding specialists there.   Valerie W. McClain, IBCLC

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