Aleitamento materno e a prática de desmame em duas comunidades rurais de Piracicaba - SP Breast feeding and weaning in two rural communities of a Brazilian town (Piracicaba-SP)

• Main Authors: Kátia Cilene Tabai, José Ferreira de Carvalho, Elisabete Salay
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Pontifícia Universidade Católica de Campinas 1998-12-01
• Series: Revista de Nutrição
• Subjects: aleitamento materno; alimentos infantis; desmame; população rural; Brasil; breast feeding; infant food; weaning; rural population; Brazil
• Online Access: http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1415-52731998000200008

O aleitamento materno e a prática de desmame foram estudados em 76 crianças de 3 a 24 meses de idade pertencentes a 69 famílias de comunidades rurais de Piracicaba, SP, por meio de entrevistas. Foram analisadas as medianas da duração do aleitamento materno exclusivo, predominante (incluindo somente água e chá) e misto, utilizando-se a tábua de vida. O teste Wilcoxon foi aplicado para verificar as variáveis socioeconômicas e demográficas associadas com o tempo de aleitamento. A mediana da duração de aleitamento materno exclusivo foi de 3 dias para Anhumas e 30 dias para Santa Olímpia. O aleitamento predominante e o aleitamento misto prolongaram-se por 90 e 180 dias em Anhumas e 120 e 165 dias em Santa Olímpia, respectivamente. Somente o sexo da criança apresentou associação com a duração do aleitamento materno. Iniciou-se o processo de desmame especialmente com água, chás, leite de vaca fluido e sucos açucarados.<br>Breast feeding and weaning were studied in 76 infants from 3 to 24 months of age in two rural communities in Piracicaba, state of São Paulo. Interviews with the children's mothers were conducted at their homes. The average duration of exclusive breast feeding, predominant breast feeding (including only water and tea) and complementary feeding was analyzed by means of life tables. The Wilcoxon test was conducted to verify socioeconomic and demographic variables associated with the duration of breast feeding. The average duration of exclusive breast feeding was 3 days in the community of Anhumas and 30 days in that of Santa Olímpia. Predominant breast feeding and complementary feeding were prolonged for 90 and 180 days in Anhumas and for 120 and 165 days in Santa Olímpia, respectively. Only the sex of the child was associated with the duration of predominant breast feeding, with boys being nursed longer. Insufficient milk was the main reason given for termination of breast feeding. Weaning was generally initiated with liquids such as water, tea, fluid cow milk and sweetened juices.