Abstract

PIP: The results of a study carried out in a sample of mothers from 2 cities of the province of Manabi, Ecuador in August 1979 are presented in this paper. A total of 962 mothers were surveyed, 507 in Portoviejo, capital of the province, and 455 in Chone. The purpose of the study was to gather information on breastfeeding practices with the oldest child born 3 years prior to the initiation of the study and who was not being breastfed any longer. Breastfeeding was found to be widespread (88.8% in Portoviejo and 77.5% in Chone). The mothers ages 20-34 nursed their babies longer than 6 months. Most of the mothers were housewives and they tended to breastfeed their children for longer periods. This was also the case among the women with less schooling and in the lowest income brackets. The most common reasons for suspension of breastfeeding were: absence or insufficient milk; pregnancy; adverse effects of milk upon the infant or its rejection; and growth factors in the child. In these cases, the mother substituted powdered or fresh cow's milk or used them as a supplement before suspending nursing. Among other causes, physicians were apparently responsible for the introduction of substitute feeding practices. Therefore, it is recommended that health education programs be implemented for families at different socioeconomic levels in order to highlight the value of mother's milk for the infant and so that physicians will understand and advocate the benefits of breastfeeding. (author's)