Extending the duration of exclusive breastfeeding in El Alto, Bolivia through a community-based approach and the provision of health services

This document reports on a project to extend the duration of exclusive breastfeeding in a community in Bolivia. In 2003-2005, the NGO COTALMA initiated a project to improve parameters associated with exclusive breastfeeding in the Bolivian town of El Alto, adjacent to La Paz. Exclusive breastfeeding has been shown to decrease childhood mortality and decrease the prevalence of many childhood illnesses. A 2002 study suggested that only 9.9% of children exclusively breastfed up to 6 months in El Alto. El Alto is notable for its sizeable indigenous population and for the presence of manzaneras de la salud, volunteer community health workers in charge of their neighborhood block. The intervention was implemented in the Corea Health Network of El Alto, a cachement containing approximately 187,000 people. Results showed higher than expected baseline breastfeeding levels, and significant improvements after theintervention.