Breastfeeding assessment in children up to 2 years of age assisted in primary health care of Recife in the state of Pernambuco, Brazil

Abstract

The scope of this study was to evaluate exclusive and total breastfeeding in children up to 2 years of age treated in Basic Health Units (BHU) of Recife in the state of Pernambuco. A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted in the Basic Health Units of Mustardinha, Jardim Uchôa, Fernandes Figueira and Upinha Novo Prado. The study population consisted of children of 0 to 24 months of age. One hundred and forty-one children from 0 to 24 months of age were evaluated, of which 56.4% were female, 22% were = 6 months old, 21.3% were between 7 and 12 months of age and 56.7% were between 13 and 24 months of age. Analysis of the prevalence of exclusive and total breastfeeding revealed an average of 60.84 and 182.52 days, respectively. Male children, the use of pacifiers and bottle-feeding was associated with shorter exclusive breastfeeding duration.