Prevalence of breastfeeding in the first six months of life in Viana do Castelo

Abstract

Background: Breastfeeding brings benefit to mother, child and society alike. Though breastfeeding uptake is high in the beginning, there is a steep decrease in the first months of life. The knowledge of the real situation may allow for effective intervention at the primary care level. Objectives: To determine the prevalence of breastfeeding in the Viana do Castelo District at hospital discharge and in the next six months; to identify the most frequent causes for stopping; to evaluate the relation between breastfeeding duration, educational level and profession of the mother, parity and type of delivery. Study type: Cross-sectional descriptive study. Setting: Santa Luzia Hospital / Viana do Castelo District. Population: Women who delivered at the Viana do Castelo Hospital during 2002. Methods: A convenience sample (n=197) was used. Data were gathered through a questionnaire at the moment of hospital discharge and at two, four and six months after delivery. Results: Prevalence of breastfeeding at hospital discharge was 97.5%, decreasing respectively to 65.7%, 50% and 35.4% at two, four and six months. The most frequently alleged cause was lack of milk. A relation between breastfeeding duration and parity was found. Conclusions: Adherence to breastfeeding was satisfactory when compared with other studies. However, at four months only 50% of the women are breastfeeding; this justifies measures at primary care level aimed particularly at primiparous women.