Exclusive Breastfeeding: Expectations vs. Reality
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5377/pediatrica.v5i1-2.2256Keywords:
Breastfeeding, weaning, feeding methodsAbstract
Background and Objectives: Breastfeeding is widely recognized as the best food for babies. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that children receive exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life, followed by a combination of continued breastfeeding and adequate food up to 2 years old.
Objective: This research aims to determine what was the type of feeding received in children under 18 months and analyze the main factors that promote and/ or interfere with exclusive breastfeeding and identify the age at which weaning began.
Patients and Methods: In this descriptive study, a survey was applied to mothers with infants under 18 months admitted at the Toddler ward-Hospital Nacional Mario Catarino Rivas, HNMCR.
Results: 40% of mothers that participated in this study gave exclusive breastfeeding. The main cause of weaning was hypogalactia, the onset of weaning occurred at 6 months of age in 56 % of cases.
Conclusions: It is necessary to increase health activities in order to strengthen the protective factors of breastfeeding and eliminate the most common cause of weaning.
Acta Pediátrica Hondureña, Vol. 5, No. 1 & 2 / April 2014 - March 2015: 355-360
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