[Breastfeeding duration, infant feeding regimes, and factors related to living conditions in the city of Salvador, Bahia, Brazil]

Cad Saude Publica. 2005 Sep-Oct;21(5):1519-30. doi: 10.1590/s0102-311x2005000500025. Epub 2005 Sep 12.
[Article in Portuguese]

Abstract

This cross-sectional study aimed to identify breastfeeding duration, infant feeding regimes, and factors related to living conditions among 811 children under 24 months of age in Salvador, Bahia, Brazil. Data were statistically analyzed by survival analysis, Pearson's chi-square test, and multivariate logistic regression. Median duration of exclusive, predominant, and total breastfeeding was 30.6, 73.0, and 131.5 days, respectively. Exclusive or predominant breastfeeding was discontinued in 83.6% of the subjects. Children with poor living conditions were 2.3 times more likely (95%CI: 1.09-5.01) to receive early supplementary food, whereas the figure for the very poor increased to 2.5 (95%CI: 1.20-5.34). Early exclusive or predominant breastfeeding discontinuation was associated with early pregnancy and poor living conditions of the children and their families. Programs directed towards proper breastfeeding and healthy feeding practices in childhood should consider the social factors associated with early introduction of supplementary foods in this population.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Bottle Feeding / statistics & numerical data*
  • Brazil / epidemiology
  • Breast Feeding / statistics & numerical data*
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Educational Status
  • Feeding Behavior
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Male
  • Postnatal Care
  • Pregnancy
  • Prenatal Care
  • Prevalence
  • Socioeconomic Factors
  • Time Factors