Chinese Women Lag Behind In Breast Feeding

PENANG, May 11 (Bernama) -- Chinese women lagged behind Malays and Indians in breast feeding, according to the second National Health and Morbidity Study.
Health Ministry's Health Development Division deputy senior director Dr Teng Seng Chong, said the 10-year study started in 1996 showed that only 61 per cent of Chinese women breast fed their children compared to 97 per cent Malays and 83 per cent Indians.
The study also showed that 86 per cent of women in the country breast fed their babies, of which 20 per cent did so until their babies were four to six months old without interspersing with infant formula milk or other fluid.
To find out further why Chinese women lagged behind in breast feeding, the third National Health and Morbidity Study which will take off later this year will be skewed toward Chinese women, he said.
Findings from the study will enable the ministry to find ways to inculcate breast feeding among Chinese women, he told reporters here Thursday after awarding Adventist Hospital here full accreditation of the Malaysian Society For Quality In Health (MSQH) and the status of Babies Companion Hospital.
Also present was Adventist Hospital chief executive officer Datuk Teddric John Mohr.
Dr Teng asked private hospitals to promote breast feeding among Chinese women.
Meanwhile, Health Ministry deputy minister Datuk Dr Abdul Latiff Ahmad expressed disappointment over the poor response from private hospitals to its Babies Companion Hospital's campaign.
He said to date, only five out of 222 private hospitals and maternity clinics had done so, namely Pantai Medical Centre, Selangor Medical Centre, Damansara Specialist Centre, Ipoh Specialist Centre dan Adventist Hospital.
He said 114 government hospitals had supported the campaign.
ON MSQH status, he said, Adventist Hospital was ahead of 11 private hospitals in Penang in getting the recognition and hoped other hospitals will follow suit. His speech was read by Dr Teng.
On the accreditation given to Adventist Hospital for the second time for the period 2005 to 2008, he said, the hospital met the high quality of service set and matched the international standard.
He said, to date 52 government hospitals and 16 private hospitals had been accorded the MSQH.