Nutrition Education for Breastfeeding Mothers in Rural Communities of Honduras

A team of researchers from Zamorano implemented and evaluated an educational intervention for breastfeeding mothers and their babies in semi-rural communities in the municipality of San Antonio de Oriente, Francisco Morazán, Honduras. The purpose of the study was to determine whether access to appropriate nutritional information could lead to concrete improvements in the diets and health of mothers and children.

The research was led by Dr. Adriana Hernández-Santana, associate professor in Zamorano’s Department of Agroindustry, and was published in the journal Nutrición Clínica y Dietética HospitalariaThe results show that the mothers who received the educational intervention improved their knowledge and feeding practices during breastfeeding, with benefits that were also reflected in the nutritional status of their babies.

The findings confirm that limited access to information—not only limited access to food—is a key factor behind many nutritional problems during early childhood. These results reinforce the importance of including educational components in maternal and child health programs in rural areas of Honduras, where access to this type of guidance is often limited.