Determinants of optimal breast-feeding in peri-urban Guatemala City, Guatemala

Abstract

Objective. This survey was conducted to identify factors affecting early initiation of breastfeeding and exclusive breast-feeding among mothers in peri-urban Guatemala Conclusions. Our findings suggest that global efforts must be continued to improve breastfeeding practices in delivery hospitals. In addition, community-based support of breast-feeding is needed well after delivery. Mothers who work outside the home should be provided with options to maintain exclusive breast-feeding when they are physically separated from their infants due to the demands of work.Breast-feeding, infant nutrition, child development, health promotion, health education. ABSTRACTBreast-feeding is critical for sustaining the health and well-being of newborns and infants. Infants who are properly breast-fed grow better and experience less sickness and fewer deaths than do infants who are not breast-fed (1-5). Globally, breast-feeding is on the rise (6). However, in most countries a relatively small percentage of mothers practice optimal breastfeeding behaviors that reduce infants' risk of morbidity and mortality, including initiation of breast-feeding in the first hour after birth and exclusive breast-feeding for the first 6 months of life.Guatemala has the highest rate of childhood malnutrition in Latin America: 42% of children less than 3 years of age are chronically malnourished. Growth faltering in Guatemala begins in the first 6 months of life and accelerates shortly thereafter (7). Globally, efforts to address malnutrition in children may begin too late. Recent analyses using information from Africa, Asia, and Latin America indicate that virtually all deterioration in weight-

Factors associated with exclusive breastfeeding in Accra, Ghana

“…Pérez-Escamilla et al (1995) have also documented this positive association, between EBF and delivery at health facilities promoting EBF, in Brazil and Honduras. Dearden et al (2002) also found place of delivery to be a determinant of BF initiation. Thus delivery in Ghanaian maternity homes, private clinics, at home, or with TBA or spiritual leaders may pose a risk for not EBF within the first 6 months of life.…”

“…Various factors have been found to be associated with BF initiation and duration, and EBF. These include : demographic factors (eg level of education, parity, urban vs rural residence); biosocial factors (BF support in clinical and community settings); cultural factors (beliefs, norms and attitudes towards BF); socioeconomic status; and employment policies affecting how long an infant can be in close proximity to the mother (Pérez-Escamilla et al, 1995;Pérez-Escamilla et al, 1996;Valdes et al, 2000;Scott et al, 2001;Dearden et al, 2002;Martin et al, 2002;Whaley et al, 2002;Ludvigsson, 2003). The above factors affect BF and EBF rates in different directions and to varying degrees depending on the culture.…”

Fatores associados à interrupção precoce do aleitamento materno: um estudo de coorte de nascimento em dois municípios do Recôncavo da Bahia, Brasil

“…Esta realidade é documentada tanto nos países desenvolvidos, quanto em municípios de grande e pequeno portes dos países em desenvolvimento 37,38 . Estudo realizado recentemente com mulheres trabalhadoras norte-americanas revelou que estratégias de ampliação de espaços para a prática da amamentação no ambiente de trabalho contribuíram significantemente para a maior duração do aleitamento materno 39 .…”

“…Estudo realizado recentemente com mulheres trabalhadoras norte-americanas revelou que estratégias de ampliação de espaços para a prática da amamentação no ambiente de trabalho contribuíram significantemente para a maior duração do aleitamento materno 39 . Assim, tem sido fortalecida a estratégia da rede social de apoio ao aleitamento materno, em especial entre as mães trabalhadoras, por constituírem grupo de maior risco de oferecer precocemente alimentos diferentes do leite materno à criança 30,37,38,39,40 .…”

The impact of mother-to-mother support on optimal breast-feeding: a controlled community intervention trial in peri-urban Guatemala City, Guatemala

“…The study tests the hypothesis that increased peer support for breast-feeding improves optimal breast-feeding practices at the community level, with the greatest impact among women who directly participate in LLLG's programs. A baseline study of factors affecting early initiation of breast-feeding and exclusive breast-feeding is reported separately in this issue of this journal (6). The baseline study identified infant's place of delivery as the most important determinant of early initiation of breast-feeding, with children born at home or at Ministry of Health (MOH) health centers significantly more likely to initiate breast-feeding early than were children born at private hospitals.…”