The article by Kathryn G. Dewey et al (including the WHO
Working Group on Infant Growth) is entitled: <Growth of
breast-fed infants deviates from current reference data: a
pooled analysis of US, Canadian and European datasets>. The
article states that <the results of this analysis clearly
indicate that if growth charts are to reflect patterns
consistent with WHO feeding recommendations, new reference
data based on breast-fed infants are necessary. An effort
is currently under way [in WHO's Nutrition unit] to create
such reference data, with representation of a wider range of
ethnic backgrounds and parental stature than was available
for these analyses. In the meantime, the pooled data
presented herein are available in growth chart format by
request [An Evaluation of Infant Growth. WHO Working Group
on Infant Growth. 1994, 83 pages (English only);
WHO/NUT/94.8 (modest price). Order no. 1930067, WHO,
Distribution and Sales, 1211 Geneva 27, Switzerland, FAX
(41-22) 791-4857]. The implications of adopting an
international growth chart using reference data based on
breast-fed infants are discussed elsewhere [WHO Working
Group on Infant Growth, Nutrition unit. An evaluation of
infant growth: the use and interpretation of anthropometry
in infants. Bulletin of the World Health Organization 1995,
73(2):165-174]>.
Re Dr Freed's article: I don't know if
this is the same person, but <Freed GL et al. National
Assessment of physicians' breast-feeding knowledge,
attitudes, training, and experience. JAMA 1995;273:472-476>
reports on a country-wide assessment in the USA among 3424
medical residents and practising physicians in paediatrics,
ob/gyn, and family medicine.
Jim Akre, Nutrition unit, WHO, Geneva
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