PIP: Sociocultural changes in Europe during the Industrial Revolution of the past century resulted in a decline in the practice of breastfeeding. Migration of a large part of the rural population to the city led to a substantial change of life styles, with the health of the population seriously affected. Poor sanitary conditions, deteriorating nutritional status, and other problems became more widespread. Some contemporary reports noted the adverse effects on infant health of the decline in breastfeeding. A researcher in Manchester, Englands found that 60% of infants who were breastfed showed satisfactory growth and nutritional status through 9 months, compared with only 10% of artificially fed infants. In some respects, developments in postwar Latin American reflect trends in Europe a century ago, with rural-urban migration, the incorporation of women into the labor market, the development of food technology, and the use of advertising and propaganda combining to produce a decline in the prevalence of breastfeeding. The proportions of infants breastfed declined from 15% to 6% in Chile between 1960-1968, while in Mexico a parallel but less marked decline in breastfeeding has occurred in both rural and low income urban areas. In 1973, 2/3 of 5000 mothers interviewed breastfed their infants in the 1st month, while by 1979 only 52.8% of a similar sample did so. 3 possible explanations of the decline in breastfeeding see it as a symptom of abandonment of traditional ways by mothers in a process of cultural change; as a decision made without reflection on its consequences for the baby and the family; or as a result of information received by the mother whose interpretation is influenced by her educational level. To understand the phenomenon, breastfeeding must be considered a form of instinctive behavior by which the mother promotes the growth of her baby during a phase of intense nutritional demand, but the practice of breastfeeding is also the result of interaction of the members of the mother's society. Breastfeeding must be considered a cultural trait. Although infant feeding practices have deep cultural roots, the interaction of technologically advanced societies in the western world with underdeveloped societies has produced a process of transculturation in the latter whereby breastfeeding is gradually being displaced. It is probable that only a process of education can combat the decline in breastfeeding.^ieng