FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH BREASTFEEDING AND FOOD DIVERSITY IN THE SECOND SEMESTER OF LIFE
The World Health Organization advocates breastfeeding for two years or more and the introduction of complementary foods since six months of age. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and the risk factors to breastfeeding and to complementary food diversity in the second semester of life.
METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted in Barra Mansa, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. A representative sample of 580 persons accompanying children less than one year old were interviewed during the 2006’s National Vaccination Campaign. Mothers were asked how children had been fed in the last 24 hours. Variables associated (p≤0.20) to lack of breastfeeding and to food diversity in the bivariate analysis were selected for multivariate analysis. The adjusted prevalence ratios were obtained by Poisson Regression Model. The final model consisted of variables associated to the outcome with p≤0.05.
RESULTS:
The prevalence of children who did not consume breast milk in the second semester of life was 39.8 % and of children that did not consume foods with adequate diversity was 64.5 %. In multivariate analysis, low birth weight (PR=1.45), being accompanied by someone else than the mother (PR=1.28), pacifier use (PR=3.28), bottle feeding (PR=1.61), and crescent age of the child (RP=1.004) were risk factors to breastfeeding. The child being accompanied by someone else than the mother (PR=1.17) and had been hospitalized previously (PR=1.21) were associated to the lack of food diversity. On the other hand, being born in a private hospital (PR=0.81) and crescent age (PR=0.99) were protective factors for food diversity.
CONCLUSIONS:
WHO’s recommendations are not being followed. Pacifier use and bottle feeding menace breastfeeding or are markers of troubles with this practice. Previous hospitalization may lead to lack of food diversity. The absence of the mother accompanying the child for vaccination was a risk factor for both outcomes.