Abstract

GONZALEZ MENDEZ, Iraida  and  PILETA ROMERO, Berenies. Lactancia materna. Rev Cubana Enfermer [online]. 2002, vol.18, n.1, pp. 15-22. ISSN 1561-2961.

A descriptive and crosswise study of all the infants (113) that were born from January to December, 1998 in an urban area attended by 5 physician´s offices of "Rolando Monterrey" polyclinics was performed, with the objective of expanding the knowledge on the epidemiological characteristics related with breast-feeding in this health care area. In Cuba exclusive breast-feeding, as it is stated in the plan of action of the World Summit for the Child, should be an element of great importance to keep the decreasing tendency of mortality rate in under five years-old children up to the year 2000. Personal interviews was the method of choice for gathering data to obtain good information and the informed consent for this study was given by the nursing mothers who supported it. Factors affecting early weaning and the possible difficulties with the duration of breast-feeding were considered. It was concluded that women aged 20-34 years, housewives, married women with junior high educational level and women with only one child were the ones that achieved higher effectiveness in breast-feeding. Hypogalactia was found as a frequent cause of early weaning whereas the most frequent problem observed in these children was acute respiratory infection. Since family physician and nurse are fundamental pillars in the development of this kind of feeding, then they should continue to carry out their educational work so that mothers have a better psychological preparation.

Keywords : BREAST FEEDING; MILK, HUMAN; WEANING; LACTATION DISORDERS; FAMILY PRACTICE; HEALTH PROMOTION; PRIMARY HEALTH CARE.

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