Dominican Republic [: review of child survival project]

But the Dominican Republic has an oversupply of doctors, and as a result, doctors have an unusually strong influence on the child survival practices of Dominican mothers. Unfortunately, the advice that they are apparently giving mothers is cause for alarm. While most mothers believe in breastfeeding, virtually none believe in exclusive breastfeeding; 30% don"t breastfeed colostrum; many believe in "bad milk;" and few understand the contraceptive role of breastfeeding. Diarrhea, and its dangers, are also poorly understood. Mothers feed their children poorly during diarrhea, and when they go to doctors for childhood diarrhea they are given a prescription for drugs. The principal recommendation of this study is therefore to update the medical school curriculum in pediatrics. Attachment II to the study compares data on mothers", promoters", nurses", and doctors" knowledge about child growth, breastfeeding, malnutrition, the growth chart, low birthweight, and diarrhea. (Author abstract, modified)