Nileide Lima Araújo, Luisa Helena de Oliveira Lima, Edina Araújo Rodrigues Oliveira, Elaine de Sousa Carvalho, Felipe Tavares Duailibe, Laura Maria Feitosa Formiga
This study aimed to investigate the feeding and the factors related to breastfeeding of infants in the city of Picos-PI, Brazil. This is a descriptive cross-sectional study conducted in four Family Health Units, in April-May 2011, with 90 children under 12 months, whose mothers attended the units to vaccinate them. We used a form to obtain socioeconomic data of the family and the child and data on the food offered. The rates of exclusive breastfeeding and predominant breastfeeding were 57.8% and 47.8% respectively, and exclusive breastfeeding had a median duration of 1 month. The duration of exclusive breastfeeding presented a statistically significant (p<0.05) and positive association with: having been breastfed in the first hour of birth, maternal age, and mother’s level of education. We concluded that the feeding practices studied were inappropriate for children under one year. DOI:https://doi.org/10.15253/2175-6783.2013000600002