How can programs address the common practice of water supplementation?
To address the widespread practice of water supplementation in early infancy, program managers should understand the cultural reasons for this practice, analyze existing data, conduct household trials of improved practices, and develop effective communication strategies for targeted audiences. Health care providers and community volunteers need to be informed that breastmilk meets the water requirements of an exclusively breastfed baby for the first six months. They may also require training on how to communicate messages and negotiate behavior change. Examples of messages developed in breastfeeding promotion programs that address local beliefs and attitudes about the water needs of infants are shown in the box.
