This pilot study aimed to test the effectiveness of a structured telephonic counselling (STC) on exclusive breastfeeding (EB) on healthy babies. The study was carried out on 114 primiparous women from February to March 2009. After randomization, women were divided into two groups: 55 receiving STC and 59 receiving conventional counselling. At 1, 3 and 5 months after delivery, a nurse specialist evaluated the EB rates, the influence of mother's educational level and employment status on EB. Breastfeeding rates in STC were higher compared to conventional counselling (P < 0.01); resuming work was not an EB discouraging variable as 74.5% women in the STC resumed work vs. 54.2% of the conventional counselling. Breastfeeding promotion should start during pregnancy, advising women about benefits for the child in receiving human milk. STC should be used to improve EB in primiparous women.

No abstract

This work, carried out in collaboration with professional fishing operators, aims to indicate new areas of settlement of the species Callinectes sapidus (Rathbun, 1896) present both in the Tyrrhenian Sea and in the Ionian Sea along the coast of Calabria. Part of the individuals of C. sapidus sampled were taken at the mouths of the rivers and part in the salt lakes. For each individual caught, biometrics, weight, specific areas and distribution periods were recorded