Abstract
ABSTRACTOBJECTIVE To evaluate whether the support offered by maternity hospitals is associated with higher prevalences of exclusive and predominant breastfeeding.METHODS This is a cross-sectional study including a representative sample of 916 infants less than six months who were born in maternity hospitals, in Ribeirao Preto, Sao Paulo, Southeastern Brazil, 2011. The maternity hospitals were evaluated in relation to their fulfillment of the Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding. Data were collected regarding breastfeeding patterns, the birth hospital and other characteristics. The individualized effect of the study factor on exclusive and predominant breastfeeding was analyzed using Poisson multiple regression with robust variance.RESULTS Predominant breastfeeding tended to be more prevalent when the number of fulfilled steps was higher (p of linear trend = 0.057). The step related to not offering artificial teats or pacifiers to breastfed infants and that related to encouraging the establishment of breastfeeding support groups were associated, respectively, to a higher prevalence of exclusive (PR = 1.26; 95%CI 1.04;1.54) and predominant breastfeeding (PR = 1.55; 95%CI 1.01;2.39), after an adjustment was performed for confounding variables.CONCLUSIONS We observed a positive association between support offered by maternity hospitals and prevalences of exclusive and predominant breastfeeding. These results can be useful to other locations with similar characteristics (cities with hospitals that fulfill the Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding) to provide incentive to breastfeeding, by means of promoting, protecting and supporting breastfeeding in maternity hospitals.
Highlights
Breastfeeding is the best way for children to reach their full development.[19,26] Only breast milk can provide the nutritional and immunological needs as well as see to the infant’s physiological limitations.[26]
We observed a positive association between support offered by maternity hospitals and prevalences of exclusive and predominant breastfeeding
These results can be useful to other locations with similar characteristics to provide incentive to breastfeeding, by means of promoting, protecting and supporting breastfeeding in maternity hospitals
Summary
Breastfeeding is the best way for children to reach their full development.[19,26] Only breast milk can provide the nutritional and immunological needs as well as see to the infant’s physiological limitations.[26] the frequency of breastfeeding in Brazil is still below the recommendation set out by the World Health Organization (WHO): breast milk to be exclusively offered until six months of age and supplemented with other foods until the baby is two years old or more.[26] According to the II Pesquisa de Prevalência de Aleitamento Materno nas Capitais Brasileiras e Distrito Federal (Second Survey on the Prevalence of Breastfeeding in the Brazilian State Capitals and the Federal District),[17] the national prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding among children under six months of age is 41.0%. The city of Sao Paulo has a similar prevalence: 39.1%. These percentage levels are classified as “fair” according to the parameters set out by the WHO.[27]
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