Abstract
Objective: To assess the impact of the maternal breast-feeding incentive program introduced following a diagnostic survey carried out in 1996 in the peripheral area around the city of São Paulo (Brazil).
Methods: In 1996, a maternal breast-feeding incentive program was introduced as an Annual Event held to honor mothers who had breast-fed their children or who were still successfully breastfeeding. During this event, educational speeches enhanced the successful experiences as well fostered breast-feeding mothers to share their well succeeded experiences with their community. Following program implementation, surveys were regularly performed about the breast-feeding situation in the area to monitor the impact of actions taken till 2008. The survey used a semi-structured questionnaire applied to mothers with less than 7-months old babies who come to the public health system units to vaccinate their children on the Vaccination National Day. This event is annually held to maintain poliomyelitis eradication throughout the Brazilian territory. The mothers filled out the questionnaire after having signed the free and informed consent form. This was a cross-type study.
Results: In 2008 there were 1,629 participant mothers: 81.15% were breast-feeding, out of which 49.62% did it exclusively. In 1998, two years after the program start-up, 66.74% were breast-feeding; in 2001, 70.95% and in 2004, 77.30%. In 2001, 24.70% were exclusively breast-feeding, and in 2008 this figure increased to 49.62%.
Conclusion: The specialized guidance and the recognition of well succeeded experiences represented efficient strategies to multiply the breast-feeding practice in the community.
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Gouvea, L., Menezes, J., Barbosa, A. et al. 1436 Monitoring of Maternal Breastfeeding in the Peripheral Area Around the City of SãO Paulo. Pediatr Res 68 (Suppl 1), 709–710 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-201011001-01436
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-201011001-01436