Social valuation of the maternal lactation and difficulties that entails the precocious weaning in smaller infants

Abstract

To know the social valuation of the practice of breastfeeding and the diffi culties that influence the early weaning in infants from five regions of Chile. This investigation was based on the interpretive paradigm, from a phenomenological approach with a qualitative methodology. Thirty-five breastfeeding mothers participated in a semi-structured inter view. The analytical strategy of grounded theory was used for the analysis. The qualitative data mana gement software Atlas Ti, 8 was used. It is evident that the social dimension and its categories (support network of the partner, family, and women of the family) are fundamental to maintaining EBF since weaning occurred when these were not available. Women perceive great value in the support networks of the partner, family, and female family members to maintain breast feeding. The breastfeeding process is a complex phenomenon and not without problems, which is highly influenced by the social dimensions that generate the possibility of maintaining breastfeeding until 6 months or longer or, on the contrary, they influence its suspension.