Factors associated with exclusive breastfeeding in children under four months old in Botucatu-SP, Brazil

Maria Antonieta De Barros Leite Carvalhaes,Marilene Plácido Da Costa,Cristina Maria Garcia De Lima Parada

doi:10.1590/s0104-11692007000100010

Maria Antonieta De Barros Leite Carvalhaes, Marilene Plácido Da Costa + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1590/s0104-11692007000100010

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Abstract

This study aimed to identify factors associated with exclusive breastfeeding (AME) and the reasons mothers presented to introduce complementary feeding in the first four months of life. A total of 380 mothers (92.2%) of children under four months old vaccinated in a Multi-vaccination Campaign were interviewed. To identify factors associated to AME, univariate and multiple logistic regressions analyses were performed. Thirty-eight percent of the children were on AME; 33.4% consumed cow milk; 29.2% tea; and 22.4% water. The mothers justified introduction of cow milk by factors related to quantity/quality of maternal milk and "necessity" of the child. The use of a pacifier (odds ratio=2.63; CI95%=1.7-4.06) and difficulty to breastfeed (odds ratio=1.57; CI95%=1.02-2.41) were associated with the absence of AME. The populational attributable risk percentage for the use of a pacifier was estimated at 46.8 %. Thus, modifiable risk factors were associated with AME interruption.

Highlights

There is a universal consensus about the fundamental importance of breastfeeding for children’s adequate growth and development and for their physical and mental health
The small difference between the prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding (EB) in the children under four months old, included in this study because they participated in the Multivaccination Campaign together with their mother (38.0%), and the rate found in the group of vaccinated infants under four months old (36.9%) supports the populational representativeness of these results
Considering that only little more than one third of the children exclusively received breast milk on the day before the vaccination campaign, while 100% of them should be in this situation, it can be affirmed that a considerable part of children from Botucatu in this age range are exposed to an excessive disease burden and to growth and development damage[1,2, 5]

Summary

Introduction

There is a universal consensus about the fundamental importance of breastfeeding for children’s adequate growth and development and for their physical and mental health. As a result, breastfeeding ratios have evolved favorably Inadequate practices, such as the early introduction of water, teas, other types of milk and semi-solid foods still continue, so that the prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding remains far from desirable levels [2,3,4]. In Botucatu-SP, where this study was carried out, only 19.1% of children under four months old received exclusive breastfeeding (EB) in 1995(3), a proportion that increased to 22.6% in 1999(4). The situation in Botucatu is similar to that observed in other cities in São Paulo State: a study carried out in 84 cities in 1998 evidenced prevalence rates of EB in infants under four months old over 20% in only 32% of them [2]

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