Breastfeeding and lactational amenorrhoea play a unique role in child health, birth spacing and fertility regulation.

The chapter describes how the women's health programme was initiated, the philosophy and the values that the programme attempted to evoke, the envisioned role of the Women's Health Workers and the kinds of preparation
that needed to be done before the programme could start.

In India, girls are married off at a young age, sometimes as low as 9-11 years.

The practice of breast-feeding is almost universal in India. Protecting, promoting and supporting breast-feed in should be the foremost aim of all the communities. Compare the body of a lactating mother to a baby food factory and we find that she is far and away the most efficient [1].

Among most of Tamil Nadus rural population, especially if the villages are in remote areas, health is not very much a 'felt need'. If one discusses with poor villagers their needs and aspirations, there are many other priorities of a higher order e.g.

Men of the Chakhesang tribe of Nagaland aid their wives during delivery of the newborn. Most men in the picture-postcard village of Chizami in Phek district believe it is shameful to depend on a neighbour's help when such a momentous event is taking place in their family.

As in many other countries, there are traditional beliefs in India regarding specific food items a pregnant woman should or should not eat during pregnancy and about the proper amount of food desirable for a pregnant woman
for successful reproductive outcome.

Form for, Medical Ethics sought and obtained opinion and advice from a variety of experts. It also studied some of the publications on the subject in medical and other journals.