Breastfeeding indicators trends in Brazil for three decades

Abstract

OBJECTIVE Update breastfeeding indicators trend in Brazil for the last three decades, incorporating more up-to-date information from the National Health Survey.METHODS We used secondary data from national surveys with information on breastfeeding (1986, 1996, 2006, and 2013) to construct the time series of prevalence for the following indicators: exclusive breastfeeding in children under six months of age (EBF6m), breastfeeding in toddlers under 2 years of age (BF), continued breastfeeding at one year of age (BF1year), and continued breastfeeding at two years of age (BF2years).RESULTS The prevalence of EBF6m, BF, and BF1year increased until 2006 (rising from 4.7%, 37.4%, and 25.5% in 1986 to 37.1%, 56.3%, and 47.2% in 2006, respectively). For these three indicators, there was relative stabilization between 2006 and 2013 (36.6%, 52.1%, and 45.4%, respectively). The BF2years indicator had a distinct behavior – relatively stable prevalence, around 25% between 1986 and 2006, and a subsequent increase, reaching 31.8% in 2013.CONCLUSIONS The time series of breastfeeding indicators in Brazil shows an upward trend until 2006, stabilizing from that date onwards on three of the four indicators evaluated. This result, which can be considered as a warning sign, requires evaluation and revision of policies and programs to promote, protect and support breastfeeding, strengthening existing ones and proposing new strategies so that the prevalence of breastfeeding indicators returns to an upwards trend.

Efeitos de uma tecnologia educativa na autoeficácia para amamentar e na prática do aleitamento materno exclusivo

“…In low-and middle-income countries, there are prevalences below 37% in children under 6 months of age (2) . This percentage is similar to that found in the evaluation of the breastfeeding indicators trend in Brazil in the last three decades (3) . However, between 2006 and 2013, there was a reduction in the prevalence of EBF of 0.3 and 15.1 percentage points among children aged from 0 to 2 months, and from 3 to 5 months, respectively (3) .…”

“…This percentage is similar to that found in the evaluation of the breastfeeding indicators trend in Brazil in the last three decades (3) . However, between 2006 and 2013, there was a reduction in the prevalence of EBF of 0.3 and 15.1 percentage points among children aged from 0 to 2 months, and from 3 to 5 months, respectively (3) . The influence of psychosocial factors in the process of early interruption of breastfeeding is evident in the literature (4)(5) .…”

“…Such strategies should include the various sectors of society and contribute to increase the duration of breastfeeding (3) . In a meta-analysis study, was verified the efficacy of educational interventions initiated in prenatal care on the prevalence of EBF at 6 months (11) .…”

Prevalência e fatores associados ao aleitamento materno exclusivo no primeiro mês de vida em Cruzeiro do Sul, Acre

“…Enquanto na década de 1980 apenas 3,1% das crianças <6 meses estavam em AME, esse percentual aumentou mais de dez vezes, passando a 38,6% em 2006 (Venancio et al, 2013 (Boccolini et al, 2017).…”

“…Todavia, são necessários esforços coordenados de governos, sociedade civil e outros patrocinadores para apoiar intervenções e estratégias que garantam apoio e proteção à amamentação (Sullivan, 2016 (Boccolini et al, 2017). Assim, o MS publicou recentemente as -Bases para a discussão da Política Nacional de Promoção, Proteção e Apoio ao Aleitamento…”