Aleitamento materno exclusivo em lactantes vinculadas a dois serviços de saúde no município de Lagarto, Sergipe, Brasil: Um estudo transversal

Abstract

Introduction: Breastfeeding holds great importance for the mother-baby dyad, and thanks to its numerous benefits, the WHO recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months of a child's life. However, adherence to breastfeeding often falls below desired indicators, which can be attributed to a series of barriers faced by lactating mothers during breastfeeding. Objective: To evaluate adherence to exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) among lactating mothers linked to two healthcare services in the municipality of Lagarto, Sergipe, Brazil. Justification: Breastfeeding is an essential approach to reducing maternal and infant mortality and morbidity rates. Therefore, it is important to understand adherence to exclusive breastfeeding, as well as the challenges faced by lactating mothers, in order to establish measures aimed at minimizing such impasse. Methods: Observational, cross-sectional study that evaluates and compares adherence to exclusive breastfeeding in a convenience sample (N=49) of Brazilian lactating mothers with infants up to 7 incomplete months attending the Banco de Leite Enfª Zoéd Bittencourt da Maternidade Zacarias Júnior and the Unidade Básica de Saúde Leandro Maciel in the municipality of Lagarto, using an evaluator instrument for exclusive breastfeeding adherence. Results: Fifty-one participants were included in the study. Thirteen (25.5%) were linked to the Unidade Básica de Saúde (UBS) Leandro Maciel and 38 (74.5%) to the Maternidade Municipal (MM) Zacarias Júnior. It was observed that the frequency of EBF was higher among participants linked to MM Zacarias Júnior compared to UBS Leandro Maciel (p=0.309). The mean age was 27.1 years (± 5.8), ranging from 17 to 41. 52.9% were single, 88% resided in Lagarto and in urban areas. Additionally, the majority had completed high school or higher education, with a monthly income of up to two minimum wages and did not receive government assistance. The chance of participants living in urban areas adhering to EBF was higher than those living in rural areas, as well as the chance of participants not receiving government assistance adhering to EBF was higher than those who did, but with low strength of association. Conclusion: Adherence to EBF was high when compared to other studies in the two centers studied. Most participants were single and under 30 years old. Further studies addressing a more in-depth exploration of mediating factors in the relationship between residential area and breastfeeding practices, as well as between family financial income and EBF adherence are needed to assess risk factors associated with early weaning