BREAST-FEEDING AND FACTORS RELATED TO EARLY WEANING

Abstract

This study aimed to identify the main difficulties related to breast-feeding and to survey interventions referent to breast-feeding requested by the puerperas who were attended in a gynecology and obstetrics clinic in a municipality in the southern region of Brazil. This descriptive longitudinal study was undertaken between May and August 2012, monitoring 31 mother-child dyads and collecting data through interviews at three separate points. In the first puerperal consultation, 61.5% of the children were being exclusively breast-fed and 6.5% had already been weaned. There was an increase in the percentage of the exclusive breast-feeding in the subsequent contacts after 40 days (80%) and 60 days after birth (84%). The main difficulties found were breast engorgement, fissures, hypogalactia mentioned and the mother’s need to return to work. Interventions held during the study period contributed positively to the maintenance of breast-feeding.

Keywords

• Breast-feeding
• Weaning
• Mother-and-Infant Health