BREASTFEEDING PROMOTION WITH ELDERLY: UERJ COMMUNITY ACTION PROGRAM EXPERIENCE

Abstract

Food, Nutrition and Elderly Course is the main Community Action of Food, Nutrition and Ageing Project, Nutrition Institute with Third Age Open University /Rio de Janeiro State University (UERJ) partnership. Health Promotion and Popular Health Education are theoretical reference for the weekly classes where food is valorized. Since 2008, breastfeeding has been enrolled as class subject. Thus, this study reports last ten-year experience approaching this theme. Dialogue, respect for different knowledge, problem based approach and interactive methodologies allow participant´s active engagement to discuss breastfeeding including their experience as the mother and grandmother; breastfeeding practice beliefs and taboos; adequate breastfeeding management and social support importance for exclusive breastfeeding. Dramatization, sentence production, demonstration and group discussion were pedagogical techniques used. These activities gave space for reflection and experiences exchange among the elderly, as mothers and grandparents, their new role. The Elderly statements showed changes in breastfeeding guidelines and techniques from their age to the present. Furthermore, they pointed out cultural differences in breastfeeding experience ("old times" women were kept in privacy). Finally, the importance of intergenerational relations debate and "grandmother’s" supporting breastfeeding role as a love synonym. The experience provided debate on the complexity of the breastfeeding surrounding issues and its over time evolution. DOI: 10.12957/demetra.2019.43804

Keywords

• aleitamento materno. apoio social. idosos. relação entre gerações.