Tendências temporais e fatores associados à duração do aleitamento materno em Pernambuco

Prepregnancy Obesity and Breastfeeding in the First Month of Life: A Birth Cohort

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the association between prepregnancy obesity and disruption of exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) within the first month of life. Materials and Methods: This was a prospective cohort study conducted among Brazilian mothers and their babies born between February and December 2017. Research was conducted in all maternity hospitals in Vitória da Conquista, Brazil. Data collection started in the maternity hospitals of the city and, subsequently, an interview was conducted during a home visit on the 30th day of the child's life. Survival analysis was performed using Kaplan-Meier curves and a log rank test was applied to compare the curves. The association between independent variables and the response variable was assessed using Cox regression, following the conceptual model created for the study. Results: The study analyzed 329 pairs of mothers and babies. The prevalence of prepregnancy obesity was 12%. The prevalence of EBF disruption in the first month of life was 41.1% in nonobese mothers (confidence interval [95% CI]: 35.3-46.9) and 52.6% in obese mothers (95% CI: 36.3-68.4), with a shorter survival time among mothers with prepregnancy obesity (log rank p < 0.05). The risk of EBF disruption in the first month of life was 83% higher among mothers with prepregnancy obesity, after adjusting for confounding variables-demographic, socioeconomic, prenatal maternal data, and childbirth variables (hazard ratio = 1.84; 95% CI: 1.08-3.11). Conclusions: We observed an association between pregestational obesity and disruption of EBF in the first month of life. This finding reinforces the need for a thorough professional approach to the practice of breastfeeding in this population in the prenatal period as well as early puerperium.

Intenção de amamentar entre gestantes: associação com trabalho, fumo e experiência prévia de amamentação

Resumo O objetivo do presente estudo foi estimar a prevalência de intenção de amamentar (IA) por tempo insuficiente (inferior a 6 meses) ou prolongado (24 meses ou mais) e investigar sua associação com variáveis demográficas, socioeconômicas, comportamentais relacionadas à saúde, antecedentes obstétricos e experiência prévia com amamentação entre gestantes. Estudo transversal com gestantes em acompanhamento pré-natal em 17 unidades da Estratégia Saúde da Família, em Colombo (PR). Análises de regressão logística multinomial brutas e ajustadas foram empregadas para identificar associações entre IA e variáveis de exposição. Dentre as gestantes participantes da pesquisa (n = 316), 99,1% relataram IA. O tempo médio de IA foi de 13,5 meses. A IA por tempo insuficiente e prolongado foi referida por 9,8% e 22,0% das gestantes, respectivamente. Apresentaram maiores chances de IA por tempo insuficiente aquelas que não possuíam companheiro (OR 3,23, IC95% 1,31; 7,94), que exerciam trabalho remunerado (OR 5,56, IC95% 2,10; 14,71) e que eram fumantes (OR 7,79, IC95% 2,35; 25,81). A IA prolongada foi mais frequente entre as gestantes com experiência prévia em amamentação prolongada (OR 3,05, IC95% de 1,02; 9,03). Por fim, identifica-se que os fatores associados à IA subsidiam ações voltadas para os grupos vulneráveis com vistas à promoção da prática do aleitamento materno.

Time trends in the prevalence of breastfeeding among schoolchildren from public and private schools in Florianópolis, Southern Brazil: From 2002 to 2013

OBJECTIVE

To describe breastfeeding trends from 2002 to 2012/2013, and to investigate whether breastfeeding practices differ between mothers of children in public and private schools.

METHODS

Data were obtained from three school-based cross-sectional studies conducted with 7 to 10 years old children. The total sample was 7264 individuals. Data related to breastfeeding were analyzed descriptively and compared using the chi-square test for heterogeneity or trend.

RESULTS

In the 10-year period was observed a decrease in the total percentage of schoolchildren who were not breastfed (12.9%-10.5%) and an increase in the percentage of schoolchildren breastfed for >12 months (23.9%-36.7%). In public schools, the increase of breastfeeding for >12 months was independent of maternal age and years of schooling. In private schools, the increase was observed for schoolchildren born to older mothers and to more educated mothers, although the highest percentage was observed for schoolchildren born to less educated mothers.

CONCLUSIONS

The results confirm the complexity of determining breastfeeding behaviors, and understanding these dynamics is fundamental to develop and improve programs and actions aimed at encouraging, supporting, and protecting breastfeeding. However, strategies developed in Brazil during the first decade of the 21st century should explain the increase of proportion of breastfed children for more than 12 months, and the concomitant decrease of never breastfeed children in the city of Florianopolis (Southern Brazil).

Maternal breastfeeding: indicators and factors associated with exclusive breastfeeding in a subnormal urban cluster assisted by the Family Health Strategy

OBJECTIVE

To describe and analyze indicators of feeding practices related to breastfeeding and factors associated with exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) in a subnormal urban cluster (slums) in Pernambuco, Brazil.

METHODS

Four breastfeeding indicators were used to interview mothers of children under 3 years of age. An inventory of the families' socioeconomic and environmental factors, maternal obstetric history, and basic health care access was undertaken. The sample consisted of all 310 children under the age of 3 years from Coelhos, PE, Brazil. Spearman's correlation was carried out, as well as crude and adjusted prevalence ratios for a final statistical model that showed associated factors with the main outcome at a level of 0.05.

RESULTS

The prevalence of breastfeeding in the first hour of life, exclusive breastfeeding up to 6 months, continued breastfeeding at 1 year, and continued breastfeeding at 2 years were 60.2%, 32.9%, 45.9, and 35.9%, respectively. A correlation was observed between start of pacifier use and duration of either exclusive (r_s=0.358 [p<0.001]) or non-exclusive breastfeeding (r_s=0.248 [p=0.006]). Maternal age over 35 years (p<0.001), home visit in the first week after birth (p=0.003), having had a male baby (p=0.029), and not using a pacifier (p<0.001) remained protective factors in the final model.

CONCLUSION

The prevalence rates of exclusive breastfeeding at 6 months were well above the results obtained by other Brazilian authors. Home visit and maternal age prevailed as protective factors, while pacifier use was shown to be a discouraging practice.

Avaliação do aleitamento materno em crianças até dois anos assistidas na atenção básica do Recife, Pernambuco, Brasil

Resumo O presente estudo teve por objetivo avaliar o aleitamento materno exclusivo (AME) e total em crianças até 2 anos de idade atendidas em Unidades Básicas de Saúde (UBS) do Recife-PE. Estudo descritivo transversal, realizado nas Unidades Básicas de Saúde da Mustardinha, Jardim Uchôa, Fernandes Figueira e Upinha Novo Prado. A população foi composta por crianças de 0 a 24 meses de idade. Foram avaliadas 141 crianças, das quais 54,6% eram do sexo feminino, 22% tinham idade ≤ 6 meses, 21,3% entre 7 a 12 meses e 56,7% entre 13 e 24 meses. Ao analisar a prevalência de aleitamento materno exclusivo e total, verificou-se a mediana de 60,84 e 182,52 dias, respectivamente. Crianças do sexo masculino, uso de chupeta e mamadeira foram associados ao menor tempo de aleitamento materno exclusivo.

Fatores associados à ausência de aleitamento materno na alta hospitalar em uma maternidade pública de Maceió, Alagoas, Brasil

Resumo O objetivo deste artigo é avaliar a prevalência e os fatores associados à ausência de aleitamento materno na alta hospitalar em uma maternidade pública de Maceió, Alagoas, Brasil. Estudo transversal realizado com puérperas sob alta hospitalar assistidas na maternidade do hospital universitário da capital. Foram calculadas razões de prevalência (RP) e respectivos intervalos de confiança de 95% (IC95%) por regressão de Poisson com emprego de modelo hierarquizado. Aproximadamente 20% das puérperas não estavam amamentando. Hábito tabagista na gravidez [RP = 5,20; (IC95% = 1,75-15,33); p = 0,003]; intercorrências na gestação [RP = 3,50; (IC95% = 1,04-11,77); p = 0,042] e falta de informações sobre aleitamento materno no pré-natal [RP = 5,44; (IC95% = 1,78-16,67); p = 0,003] foram fatores desfavoráveis à amamentação. A prática de aleitamento materno dentro da maternidade está aquém do ideal. Evidencia-se a importância do pré-natal, visando fornecer orientações quanto à prevenção do tabagismo na gestação e aconselhamento sobre aleitamento materno, com atenção especial àquelas puérperas que tiveram intercorrências na gestação.

Prevalence and associated factors for early interruption of exclusive breastfeeding: meta-analysis on Brazilian epidemiological studies

Abstract Objectives: to summarize Brazilian studies that analyzed the risk factors for Exclusive Breastfeeding (EBF) interruption before the child's six months of life. Methods: systematic review and meta-analysis indexed articles from Bireme, Scielo and Pubmed databases published in the period of January 2000 to December 2015. Results: 22 articles were included in the meta-analysis. The factors related to newborns were observed, such as birth weight (OR= 1.17; CI 95%: 1.05-1.29), female gender (OR= 1,09; CI 95%: 1.04-1.13) and the use of pacifier (OR= 2.29; CI 95%: 1.68-2.91) were the main factors responsible for the increase in the occurrence of EBF interruption. The factors were related to the mother, maternal age below twenty years old (OR= 1.22; CI 95%: 1.12-1.33) low schooling level (OR=1.28; CI 95%: 1.11-1.45), primiparity (OR= 1.17; CI 95%: 1.02-1.32) maternal employment during the postpartum period (OR= 1.26; CI 95%: 1.11-1.41), and low family income (OR= 1.22; CI 95%: 1.08-1.37) contributed significantly to the EBF interruption . Conclusions: the meta-analysis of Brazilian epidemiological studies demonstrated evidences to conclude that below the age of twenty, low schooling, primiparity, maternal employment in the postpartum period and low family income are associated to the interruption of exclusive breastfeeding until 6 months of age. Children with low birth weight, female gender and used a pacifier had greater vulnerability to not be exclusively breastfed. In conclusion, most of these factors can be modified through appropriate public policies throughout the adequate prenatal period to promote exclusive breastfeeding.

Factors associated with exclusive breastfeeding in the first six months of life in Brazil: a systematic review

OBJECTIVE

To identify factors associated with exclusive breastfeeding in the first six months of life in Brazil.

METHODS

Systematic review of epidemiological studies conducted in Brazil with exclusive breastfeeding as outcome. Medline and LILACS databases were used. After the selection of articles, a hierarchical theoretical model was proposed according to the proximity of the variable to the outcome.

RESULTS

Of the 67 articles identified, we selected 20 cross-sectional studies and seven cohort studies, conducted between 1998 and 2010, comprising 77,866 children. We identified 36 factors associated with exclusive breastfeeding, being more often associated the distal factors: place of residence, maternal age and education, and the proximal factors: maternal labor, age of the child, use of a pacifier, and financing of primary health care.

CONCLUSIONS

The theoretical model developed may contribute to future research, and factors associated with exclusive breastfeeding may subsidize public policies on health and nutrition.

Influência do aleitamento materno na hospitalização de menores de dois anos no estado de Pernambuco, Brasil, em 1997 e 2006

ResumoObjetivou-se avaliar a influência do aleitamento materno e de outros fatores na ocorrência de hospitalizações, bem como a frequência e principais causas de internações em menores de dois anos, no estado de Pernambuco, Brasil. Estudo transversal, descritivo-analítico, utilizando dados secundários obtidos dos bancos das II e III Pesquisas Estaduais de Saúde e Nutrição (PESN), realizadas nos anos de 1997 e 2006, respectivamente, totalizando uma amostra de 1503 menores de dois anos. Utilizou-se o teste chi-quadrado de Pearson, para analisar associações bivariadas, o Exato de Fisher, para comparação de risco de hospitalização nos dois anos observados, e a regressão de Poisson, para o ajustamento de modelo multivariado dos fatores condicionantes da internação no último inquérito. Nos dois anos analisados, não houve diferença estatisticamente significante no percentual de hospitalizações das crianças. O menor risco de internação permaneceu para os que mamaram exclusivamente. No que se refere às características ambientais, socioeconômicas, demográficas e de assistência à saúde, vários fatores evoluíram favoravelmente no período avaliado. No modelo final, apenas o índice peso/comprimento (categoria baixo peso) permaneceu associado aos fatores de risco de hospitalização de menores de dois anos.

Breastfeeding and protection against diarrhea: an integrative review of literature

Objective

To identify, in national and international journals, the studies conducted in Brazil related to breast feeding and reducing cases of diarrhea in children under 2 years of age, featuring health interventions more used.

Methods

Descriptive study, based on an integrative review of literature from PubMed and LILACS data published between January 1992 and August 2011. The keywords “breastfeeding AND diarrhea” was searched in Portuguese, English and Spanish in PubMed and LILACS. The guiding question was: “What was knowledge produced about breast feeding and prevention of diarrhea in children under 2 years between 1992 and 2011 in studies conducted in Brazil?”

Results

We selected 11 studies that showed the importance of breast feeding in the prevention and protection against diarrhea in children under 6 months, especially among children in exclusive breastfeeding.

Conclusion

Public health policies should be directed to the context of each locality, in order to reduce the problems that involve the early weaning.

Fatores de risco para a não amamentação: um estudo caso-controle

Resumo Objetivos: analisar os fatores de risco para a não amamentação em Pernambuco, Nordeste do Brasil, em 2006. Métodos: estudo caso-controle, cujos casos (70 crianças que nunca mamaram) e controles (140 crianças amamentadas exclusivamente por quatro meses ou mais) foram pareados por sexo e idade, tendo como base dados da III Pesquisa Estadual de Saúde e Nutrição realizada em Pernambuco, em 2006. Foram analisados fatores maternos e biológicos das crianças. Calcularam-se, através de análises bivariadas, as razões de chance brutas (odds ratio). Mediante ajustamentos aplicados por regressão logística de Poisson, foram seletivamente incorporadas as variáveis com valor p<0,20. Consideraram-se como significativas as variáveis com valor de p<0,05. Resultados: mães com idade igual ou superior a 36 anos (p=0,021) e a falta de orientação sobre o aleitamento no pré-natal (p=0,014) representaram uma razão de chance quatro a cinco vezes mais elevada como fator de risco para a não amamentação. Conclusões: as duas condições evidenciadas como riscos oferecem boas perspectivas para o controle da não amamentação. Em Pernambuco, a prevalência de 5% de crianças que nunca mamaram começa a figurar entre os padrões satisfatórios, de acordo com os países com boas condições de saúde da criança, sinalizando que o problema estaria perto de ser controlado.

[The impact of health workers' training on breastfeeding and complementary feeding practices]

This study aimed to evaluate the impact on feeding practices for infants (<1 year of age) resulting from update training for health workers in the Ten Steps to Healthy Feeding of Children Under Two. Health Care Centers (HCC) in Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil, were randomized into a control group (n=11) and an intervention group (n=9). Health centers organized according to Brazil's Family Health Program (FHP) were included as an intervention cluster (n=12). Infant feeding practices were evaluated at the health centers at 6 months (n=918) and again at 12 months of age (n=799). The results showed that mean duration of exclusive breastfeeding was significantly longer in the two groups that received the intervention (2.56±1.91 months in the FHP intervention and 2.32±1.63 months in the HCC intervention) compared to the HCC control group (1.91±1.60 months). There was a positive impact on the quality of complementary feeding of infants treated at the health centers that participated in the intervention, especially those with the FHP.

Factors associated with breastfeeding practice for at least six months in the state of Pernambuco, Brazil

INTRODUCTION

Despite the scientific consensus on the benefits that breastfeeding provides for the mother, the baby, the family and the environment, and also the recommendation to breastfeed exclusively for six months, this practice is far from being achieved.

OBJECTIVE

To analyze the factors associated with exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) for at least six month, as opposed to weaning up to the second month of life in the state of Pernambuco, Brazil.

METHODS

A case-control study of 124 cases (EBF for at least six months) matched for age and sex with 248 controls (weaning up to the second month of life). Cases and controls were drawn from the III State Health and Nutrition Survey. The exposure variables selected were maternal age and education, per capita income, housing zone, prenatal consultations, type of delivery, professional who assisted the delivery, and prenatal breastfeeding guidance. Logistic regression was applied to variables that showed a p-value < 0.2 in the bivariate analysis, and the variables with p-value < 0.05 were included in the final model.

RESULTS

Of the eight groups of variables considered as possible predictors of EBF for at least six months, two remained as associated factors: maternal age between 20 - 35 years old, with odds ratio (OR) 2.5 and 95% confidence interval 95%CI 1.4 - 4.5; and maternal education of 5 - 8 years of schooling (OR 2.1; 95%CI 1.2 - 3.6).

CONCLUSION

The study shows that mobilization of the public sector and stimulus to research is still needed for the success of EBF and for mother and child health.

Metodologia das Pesquisas Populacionais de Saúde Materno-Infantil: uma série transversal realizada no Estado do Ceará de 1987 a 2007

Objectivo: descrever os métodos utilizados nas Pesquisas de Saúde Materno-Infantil (PESMIC) no Ceará, durante 20 anos. Métodos: a série de inquéritos realizados no período de 20 anos foi analisada nos seguintes aspectos: a) Estudos transversais em série de base populacional, com amostra representativa de 8000 famílias; b) Utilizou-se questionários e medições antropométricas, estudando-se níveis e causas de mortalidade infantil, prevalência de desnutrição da mãe e da criança, duração da amamentação, cobertura vacinal, prevalência e manejo da diarreia e acesso aos serviços de saúde materno-infantil; c) Obteve-se como resultado as variáveis desfechos (principal mortalidade infantil) e diversos determinantes materno-infantis e socioeconómicos. Resultados: o índice de resposta foi de quase 100% nos cinco inquéritos realizados (1986-2007), e ocorreram importantes mudanças nos indicadores sociodemográficos e de saúde; redução de 81% da taxa de mortalidade infantil, aumento de 43% da taxa de amamentação; índice de imunização de 95%. Observou-se aumento de 243% do índice de sobrepeso. Foram entrevistados no total somado dos cinco estudos: 177.132 residentes, sendo 47.508 mulheres e 13.049 crianças. Conclusões: recomenda-se a continuidade desses estudos utilizando-se a mesma metodologia, possibilitando analises de variações temporais.

[The prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding and associated factors: a cross-sectional study of teenage mothers between 14 and 16 years of age in the city of Porto Alegre in the State of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil]

This is a cross-sectional study to verify the prevalence and associated factors related to exclusive breastfeeding in adolescent mothers between 14 and 16 years of age with 6-month-old or younger babies, born in Porto Alegre in the State of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, in 2009. The sample was based on 50% of the newborn babies from the population surveyed. A total of 341 adolescent mothers were interviewed in their homes. The variables considered as potential determinants of exclusive breastfeeding were social and demographic, pre- and post-natal assistance, emotional aspects of the mother, birth conditions and baby characteristics. Prevalence ratios (PR) were estimated by Poisson regression by means of hierarchical analysis. The prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding ranged from 47.8% in the first month of life up to 13.8% after six months and declined, on average, 24% for each month of life (RP = 0.76; CI95%: 0.68-0.85). Besides the baby's age, the factors associated with exclusive breastfeeding were maternal education (PR=1.53; CII95%: 1.18-1.98) and multiple births (PR=1.57; CI95%:1.02-2.46), the latter observed in only 4.7% of the sample. Teenage mothers with higher schooling and with live children from earlier pregnancies manifested higher prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding.

Feeding practices, healthcare and kinship during the first year of life

This paper reports a study of how babies are fed during their first year of life as practiced by families living in a low-income neighborhood of Salvador, Bahia, Brazil and served by the state's Family Health Program. Two families were followed up over a year using the Bick method for the observation of mother-infant relationships. The results showed that although the families appreciated the recommendations of health professionals regarding the need to practice exclusive breastfeeding until the child reached six months, in practice during their first few weeks of life the babies were started on complementary food in addition to breast milk. The mothers made decisions regarding feeding the babies taking into consideration the following: The opinions of a selection of relatives; food availability; ideas about what is suitable for the developing baby; and finally, their observations of the child's responses. The results show that food is part of the mutually imbricated processes of the social construction of the person and the constitution of kinship ties. The conclusion reflects on the implications of these findings for health practices.

Aleitamento materno em crianças de 0 a 59 meses no Estado de Pernambuco, Brasil, segundo o peso ao nascer

Objetivou-se descrever e analisar a prática do aleitamento materno em crianças menores de cinco anos no estado de Pernambuco, em 2006, segundo o peso ao nascer. Estudo transversal, com amostra de 1.595 crianças. Utilizou-se o teste chi-quadrado de Pearson para analisar associações bivariadas e a regressão de Poisson para o ajustamento de modelo multivariado dos fatores condicionantes ao aleitamento exclusivo > 4 meses, segundo o peso ao nascer. Verificou-se que a realização do pré-natal e o número de consultas beneficiaram as crianças que nasceram com peso > 2.500g, quando comparadas aos casos com peso < 2.500g (baixo peso ao nascer - BPN). Não houve diferença estatística nas classificações do aleitamento materno, segundo o peso ao nascer. As variáveis anos de estudo formal e tipo de parto apresentaram-se associadas ao grupo de BPN, enquanto que para as crianças com peso > 2.500g foram detectadas associações com as variáveis renda per capita, espaço geográfico, orientação sobre aleitamento materno no pré-natal e sexo das crianças. O grupo de crianças BPN não foi favorecido quanto às recomendações referentes ao aleitamento materno, bem como foram diferentes os resultados das relações das variáveis que permaneceram nos dois grupos representando os modelos finais de análises multivariadas.

Factors associated with exclusive breastfeeding in the Legal Amazon and Northeast regions, Brazil, 2010

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to identify the factors associated with exclusive breastfeeding in children aged less than six months from the Brazilian Legal Amazon and Northeast regions. METHODS: The study used data from a survey that assessed prenatal and infant (<1 year) care in 2010. Sociodemographic, prenatal, delivery, and puerperium care factors with p<0.05 in multivariate analysis were associated with exclusive breastfeeding. RESULTS: For both regions, the prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding decreased with age, which was the main variable associated with early weaning. In the Legal Amazon, exclusive breastfeeding prevailed among: mothers aged 35 years or more; mothers living in state capitals; and mothers who breastfed on the first hour of life. In the Northeast, the probability of exclusive breastfeeding was greater for mothers aged 35 years or more. CONCLUSION: The factors associated with exclusive breastfeeding were child's and mother's age in both regions; and residence location and breastfeeding in the first hour of life in the Legal Amazon, suggesting the need of differentiated strategies for the promotion of exclusive breastfeeding.

[Breastfeeding-Friendly Primary Care Unit Initiative and the relationship with exclusive breastfeeding]

OBJECTIVE

To analyze the prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding and the association with the Breastfeeding-Friendly Primary Care Unit Initiative.

METHODS

Cross-sectional study, whose data source were research on feeding behaviors in the first year of life conducted in the vaccination campaigns of 2003 and 2006, at the municipality of Barra Mansa, RJ, Southeastern Brazil. For the purposes of this study, infants under six months old, accounting for a total of 589 children in 2003 and 707 children in 2006, were selected. To verify the relationship between being followed-up by Breastfeeding-Friendly Primary Care Unit Initiative units and exclusive breastfeeding practice, only data from the 2006 inquiry was used. Variables that in the bivariate analysis were associated (p-value ≤ 0.20) with the outcome (exclusive breastfeeding practice) were selected for multivariate analysis. Prevalence ratios (PR) of exclusive breastfeeding were obtained by Poisson Regression with robust variance through a hierarchical model. The final model included the variables that reached p-value ≤ 0.05.

RESULTS

The prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding increased from 30.2% in 2003 to 46.7% in 2006. Multivariate analysis showed that mother's low education level reduced exclusive breastfeeding practice by 20.0% (PR = 0.798; 95%CI 0.684;0.931), cesarean delivery by 16.0% (PR = 0.838; 95%CI 0.719;0.976), and pacifier use by 41.0% (PR = 0.589; 95%CI 0.495;0.701). In the multiple analysis, each day of the infant's life reduced exclusive breastfeeding prevalence by 1.0% (PR = 0.992; 95%CI 0.991;0.994). Being followed-up by Breastfeeding-Friendly Primary Care Initiative units increased exclusive breastfeeding by 19.0% (PR = 1.193; 95%CI 1.020;1.395).

CONCLUSIONS

Breastfeeding-Friendly Primary Care Unit Initiative contributed to the practice of exclusive breastfeeding and to the advice for pregnant women and nursing mothers when implemented in the primary health care network.

Degree of compliance with the ten steps of the Breastfeeding Friendly Primary Care Initiative and its association with the prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding

OBJECTIVE

To analyze the association between the degree of compliance with the ten steps of the Breastfeeding-Friendly Primary Care Initiative (BFPCI) and the prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) in infants younger than six months in the city of Rio de Janeiro.

METHODS

This was a cross-sectional study conducted in a representative sample of 56 primary health care units of this municipality. The assessment of compliance with the ten steps of the BFPCI was carried out by interviewing health care professionals, pregnant women, and mothers; the generated performance scores were classified into tertiles. To obtain the outcome, i.e., the EBF, a data collection questionnaire was applied to mothers of children younger than six months who were followed up at these units in November of 2007. Prevalence ratios were obtained for the EBF using Poisson regression with robust variance.

RESULTS

The prevalence of EBF was 47.6%. In the multivariate analysis, the upper tertile of performance showed a 34% higher prevalence of EBF (PR=1.34, 95% CI: 1.24 to 1.44) and the second tertile was 17% higher (PR=1.17, 95% CI: 1.08 to 1.27) than the first tertile. Mothers who did not work outside home had a 75% higher prevalence of EBF (PR=1.75, 95% CI: 1.53 to 2.01); assistance in a basic health unit, as opposed to a family health unit, implied a 10% higher prevalence (PR=1.10, 95% CI: 1.03 to 1.19). The prevalence of EBF decreased 1% for each day of the infant's life (PR=0.993, 95% CI: 0.992 to 0.993).

CONCLUSION

Given the contribution of BFPCI to the practice of EBF, a greater investment in the expansion and sustainability of this initiative is recommended, as well as its association with other strategies to promote, protect, and support breastfeeding.

[Prevalence and determinants of exclusive breastfeeding in the city of Serrana, São Paulo, Brazil]

The objective of this cross-sectional and quantitative study was to identify the prevalence and determinants of exclusive breastfeeding among infants less than six months of age in the city of Serrana, Sao Paulo, Brazil in 2009. A validated semi-structured questionnaire was administered to the guardians of the children less than six months of age who attended the second phase of a Brazilian vaccination campaign against polio. Univariate and multivariate analysis presented in odds ratios and confidence intervals was accomplished. Of the total of 275 infant participants, only 29.8% were exclusively breastfed. Univariate analysis revealed that mothers who work outside the home without maternity leave, mothers who did not work outside the home, adolescent mothers, and the use of pacifiers have a greater chance of interrupting exclusive breastfeeding. In the multivariate analysis, mothers who work outside the home without maternity leave are three times more likely to wean their children early. Results provide suggestions for the redirection and planning of interventions targeting breastfeeding.

Breastfeeding protects against type 1 diabetes mellitus: a case-sibling study

BACKGROUND

Some epidemiological studies have shown a protective effect of breastfeeding against type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM), whereas others have found opposite results. The role of early exposure to cow's milk protein and shorter duration of breastfeeding are still controversial. This study aimed to compare the frequency and duration of breastfeeding among siblings with and without T1DM.

METHODS

A case-control study was conducted at the Prof. Fernando Figueira Institute of Integral Medicine, Recife, PE, Brazil, between June 2009 and August 2010. The case patients were children with T1DM, and the controls were their unaffected sibling. The World Health Organization criteria for T1DM were used. All T1DM cases had the diagnostic criteria confirmed by checking their medical records. Data on infant feeding during the first year of life, prenatal care, gestational age, delivery, birth weight, and immunization status were collected through information provided by the mothers.

RESULTS

In total, 123 children with diabetes mellitus type 1 and their respective siblings were studied. There was no difference in breastfeeding rates among the two groups, but patients with diabetes had a shorter duration of breastfeeding (3.3 vs. 4.6 months, p < 0.001). The diabetic group was exposed earlier to cow's milk. After controlling for other associated variables it was shown that a longer duration of breastfeeding was associated with a protective effect against diabetes.

CONCLUSIONS

Our data support the proposal that a shorter breastfeeding interval may contribute to T1DM in Brazilian children.