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. 2015:49:85.
doi: 10.1590/S0034-8910.2015049005354. Epub 2016 Jan 15.

Influence of the support offered to breastfeeding by maternity hospitals

[Article in English, Portuguese]
Adriana Passanha  1 , Maria Helena D'Aquino Benício  2 , Sônia Isoyama Venâncio  3 , Márcia Cristina Guerreiro dos Reis  4
Affiliations

Influence of the support offered to breastfeeding by maternity hospitals

[Article in English, Portuguese]
Adriana Passanha et al. Rev Saude Publica. 2015.

Abstract
in English, Portuguese

Objective: To evaluate whether the support offered by maternity hospitals is associated with higher prevalences of exclusive and predominant breastfeeding.

Methods: This is a cross-sectional study including a representative sample of 916 infants less than six months who were born in maternity hospitals, in Ribeirao Preto, Sao Paulo, Southeastern Brazil, 2011. The maternity hospitals were evaluated in relation to their fulfillment of the Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding. Data were collected regarding breastfeeding patterns, the birth hospital and other characteristics. The individualized effect of the study factor on exclusive and predominant breastfeeding was analyzed using Poisson multiple regression with robust variance.

Results: Predominant breastfeeding tended to be more prevalent when the number of fulfilled steps was higher (p of linear trend = 0.057). The step related to not offering artificial teats or pacifiers to breastfed infants and that related to encouraging the establishment of breastfeeding support groups were associated, respectively, to a higher prevalence of exclusive (PR = 1.26; 95%CI 1.04;1.54) and predominant breastfeeding (PR = 1.55; 95%CI 1.01;2.39), after an adjustment was performed for confounding variables.

Conclusions: We observed a positive association between support offered by maternity hospitals and prevalences of exclusive and predominant breastfeeding. These results can be useful to other locations with similar characteristics (cities with hospitals that fulfill the Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding) to provide incentive to breastfeeding, by means of promoting, protecting and supporting breastfeeding in maternity hospitals.

OBJETIVO: Analisar se o apoio oferecido pelas maternidades associa-se à maior prevalência de aleitamento materno exclusivo e predominante.

MÉTODOS: Estudo transversal, com amostra representativa de 916 crianças com menos de seis meses nascidas em maternidades, em Ribeirão Preto, SP, em 2011. As maternidades foram avaliadas em relação ao cumprimento dos Dez Passos para o Sucesso do Aleitamento Materno. Foram coletados dados sobre padrão de amamentação, hospital de nascimento e demais características. O efeito individualizado do fator de estudo sobre o aleitamento materno exclusivo e o predominante foi avaliado mediante análise de regressão múltipla de Poisson, com variância robusta.

RESULTADOS: O aleitamento materno predominante tendeu a ser mais prevalente quanto maior o número de passos cumpridos (p de tendência = 0,057). Os passos relacionados a não oferecer bicos artificiais a crianças amamentadas e a encorajar o estabelecimento de grupos de apoio à amamentação associaram-se, respectivamente, à maior prevalência de aleitamento materno exclusivo (RP = 1,26; IC95% 1,04;1,54) e predominante (RP = 1,55; IC95% 1,01;2,39), após ajuste pelas variáveis de confusão.

CONCLUSÕES: Observou-se associação positiva entre o apoio oferecido pelas maternidades e as prevalências de aleitamento materno exclusivo e predominante. Os resultados trazem subsídios para que localidades com características semelhantes (municípios com hospitais que cumprem os Dez Passos para o Sucesso do Aleitamento Materno) incentivem a amamentação, por meio da promoção, proteção e apoio ao aleitamento materno em maternidades.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure
Figure. Proportion of children exposed to the fulfillment of the Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding. Ribeirao Preto, SP, Southeastern Brazil, 2011.
Figura
Figura. Proporção de crianças expostas ao cumprimento dos Dez Passos para o Sucesso do Aleitamento Materno. Ribeirão Preto, SP, 2011.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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