Baixa prevalência do aleitamento materno exclusivo em crianças menores de seis meses, no município de Patos de Minas Minas gerais: um plano de ação

Abstract

This work demonstrates the low prevalence of breastfeeding exclusively until six months of life, in the area of coverage of the Programme of Community Health Agents (PACS) in the city of Patos de Minas, Minas Gerais. Breastfeeding is essential for good health and child development, but despite its excellence, the indices of early weaning are high. This is a worrying fact, by the risks to the child health and by its dimension as a public health problem. Thus, the number of children who do not breastfeed exclusively until the six months of life was quantified, through data of the SIAB and chips of community health agents. Among children up to six months, 16.6% are in exclusive breastfeeding, 77,5% in mixed breastfeeding and 5.5% are no more breastfed. Possible causes are pointed and critical aspects are related to the early weaning. It is presented a Plan of Action to encourage exclusive breastfeeding, based on overcoming of critics points and developing strategic actions.