Prevalence of Breastfeeding: The Impact of Obstetric Variables

Background: In the “Project on Promotion of Breastfeeding in Europe” the European Union defends that the protection, promotion and support of breastfeeding are a priority. The Action Plan for Food and Nutrition Policy for 2007-2012, approved in 2007 by WHO/EURO, recognises the protection, promotion and support of breastfeeding and a safe and appropriate complementary feeding for infants and children as necessary actions to support a start to a healthy life.

Objectives: To determine the prevalence of breastfeeding in children up to two years old in a region of central Portugal and correlate the prevalence of obstetric variables.

Methods: This is a quantitative, descriptive correlational, cross study. The sample consists of 211 mother/baby dyads attending a medical consultation at two years old. The evaluation protocol includes a questionnaire allowing for their socio-demographic and obstetric characterisation.

Findings: The results reveal that 90.1% of women decided to breastfeed of their own initiative, 58.1% breastfed for a period inferior to 12 months and 23.2% for a period between 3 to 6 months. Reasons for having stopped breastfeeding were lack of milk 33.2%, the baby stopped breastfeeding 7.6%. 61.2% introduced the pacifier in the first week of life, 63.5% did not establish a breastfeeding time, 81% breastfeed within the first hour of life and 31.3% offered tea between feedings. Previous experience with breastfeeding (p=0.042) and introducing the pacifier (p=0-027) have explanatory power of breastfeeding duration.

Discussion: low rates of breastfeeding or its early termination have adverse implications for the health of women, children, community and environment, thus, we recommend policies that promote breastfeeding and the awareness of health professionals to implement programmes that monitor breastfeeding.