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Since the early 1970s, when the proportion of new mothers who initiated breast-feeding fell to 22%, 1 there has been an increase in the amount of information provided to health professionals and women of childbearing age about the many health advantages of breast-feeding. By 1979 the rate of initiation of breast-feeding had risen to 51% 2 and reached a modern high of 62% in 1984. 3 However, the rates for initiation of breast-feeding and duration have again fallen despite continued efforts to inform heatth professionals and the public of the physiologic and cognitive benefits. 36 In light of the goals of Healthy People 2000, 7 new initiatives must be developed to reverse the current downward trend if we «~ re to reach the goals of 75% initiation of breast-feeding at birth and 50% feeding at least some human milk until the age of 6 months. Ascertaining the factors important to a mother's decision about how to feed her …