Preliminary findings of a survey on the influences of institutional facilities on mothers in the post-partum period in hospital that affect breast-feeding were reported. It was observed that although advice on breast-feeding is now given, there is a conflict between advice and practice so that the advice has been ritualistic. There is a lack of follow-up on advice, and the mother is not helped and encouraged to breast-feed and to overcome her initial disappointment and difficulties. It was also pointed out that the artificial milk-food industry exercises a negative influence through maternity ward staff by provision of milk samples to maternity units and by visits of their sales staff to the mothers. It was emphasised that the hospital factor could be an important cause of failure of the mother to breast-feed.