Situação do alentamento materno em crianças menores de um ano no município de São Brás do Suaçuí, Minas Gerais, 2010

Abstract

Objective: The objective of this work is evaluating breastfeeding index among children less than one year, in São Brás do Suaçuí, Minas Gerais, Brasil. Method: The study consisted in the implementation of a questionnaire, on home visits, with questions regarding breastfeeding and others information used in the treatment of data. The municipality has a total of 41 children less than one year; however, due to related difficulties, two rural area residents didnt participated in this study. Mothers of 39 children under one year residents in the municipality were interviewed, in the period December 2009 to January 2010. Results: The results show that 100% of children began exclusive breastfeeding and none in bottle-feeding. Children younger than one month were in exclusive breastfeeding. To 6 months of age there were 22 children, and of these, 100% were being breastfed, 63.6% with exclusive breastfeeding, 22.7% with predominant breastfeeding and 13.6% mixed with breastfeeding. Among the 16 children, from 6 to 12 months old, 56.3% were still breast-feeding and 43.7% were weaned. Conclusions: The results of this study showed that the situation of breastfeeding in São Brás do Suaçuí is reasonable in relation to national results, but it is distant than whats postulated by the World Health Organization, particularly with regard to exclusive breastfeeding and early weaning. Thus realize the confirmation its necessary to implement actions for the promotion, protection and support of breastfeeding on the health service.