Factors Associated with Age at Breastfeeding Cessation in Amazonian Infants: Applying a Proximal-Distal Framework

Autor(es)

Kearns, Annie D. ^[1] ; Castro, Marcia C. ^[1] ; Lourenco, Barbara H. ^[2] ; Augusto, Rosangela A. ^[2] ; Cardoso, Marly A. ^[2] ; Team, ACTION Study

Afiliação do(s) autor(es)

^[1] Harvard TH Chan Sch Publ Hlth, Dept Global Hlth & Populat, 677 Huntington Ave, Boston, MA 02115 - USA

^[2] Univ Sao Paulo, Sch Publ Hlth, Dept Nutr, Ave Dr Arnaldo 715, BR-01246904 Sao Paulo - Brazil

• Tipo de documento: Artigo Científico
• Fonte: MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH JOURNAL; v. 20, n. 7, p. 1539-1548, JUL 2016.
• Citações Web of Science: 1

Resumo

Introduction Breastfeeding is an important determinant of child survival and normal growth and development, but breastfeeding prevalence is generally low in Brazil. Factors associated with infant feeding practices there are not well understood. This paper examines factors associated with breastfeeding cessation in a township in the western Brazilian Amazon. Methods A cross-sectional, population-based study was conducted among children younger than 25 months and collected information on maternal and child characteristics. Survival analysis based on a proximal-distal framework examined the association between breastfeeding duration and socioeconomic and maternal/child biological factors. Results The median breastfeeding duration among 101 children who were no longer breastfeeding was 120 days. Almost two-thirds (63 %) of these children stopped breastfeeding before 6 months of age. In the larger sample of 209 children, 74.6 % had previously been bottle-fed. Considering the full proximal-distal model, a child who had ever been bottle-fed was expected to cease breastfeeding about 88 % sooner than one who was never bottle-fed (p < 0.001). Children in the second-poorest wealth quartile stopped breastfeeding sooner than children in the poorest quartile (p < 0.05). Discussion Breastfeeding cessation in the study area occurred much earlier than the recommended 2 years of age. Factors associated with ending breastfeeding early included ever-use of a bottle, having a single mother, and belonging to the second-poorest wealth quartile. Further research is needed to better understand these factors and other barriers women face to continuing breastfeeding. (AU)

• Processo FAPESP: 07/53042-1 - Saude e nutricao de criancas pre-escolares da amazonia ocidental brasileira: um estudo de coorte.
• Beneficiário: Marly Augusto Cardoso
• Modalidade de apoio: Auxílio à Pesquisa - Regular