[The factors facilitating and constraining the continuation of breastfeeding in women in Estrie (Quebec)]. / Les facteurs facilitant et contraignant l'allaitement maternel en Estrie (Québec).

OBJECTIVE: To document breastfeeding rates from birth to six months as well as the factors facilitating and constraining the continuation of breastfeeding in women in the Eastern Townships of Quebec and to compare these to the results obtained in 1999. METHOD: Postal questionnaire sent to 374 mothers who had breastfed and analysis of archival data. RESULTS: Breastfeeding rates were 86.3% at birth and 75% at discharge from hospital in all mothers who gave birth to a child in 2004-2005. Breastfeeding rates in the 272 mothers who answered the questionnaire were reported to be 67.3% and 47.4% at three and six months respectively. Results indicate that 8.9% of infants were still receiving breast milk exclusively after the third month. However, 27.9% of the mothers had stopped breastfeeding during the infant's first week. Support from the nurses was the primary factor facilitating breastfeeding. The main reasons the mothers gave for stopping breastfeeding were problems with breastfeeding and fatigue. CONCLUSION: Breastfeeding rates in this area of Quebec have increased significantly in the past five years and are comparable with those in the rest of Canada. Breastfeeding exclusively up to six months is rare, and initiatives to support breastfeeding mothers in the hospital and in the community are having success.

[Children with conducts disorder and using psychoeducational services: a social, psychological and family portrait]. / Enfants manifestant un trouble des conduites et utilisant des services psychoéducatifs : un portrait social, familial et psychologique.

Contemporary studies suggest that most of the children who manifest conducts disorder also present personal as well as family problems. This is particularly true for children whose disorder is precocious. The identification of personal characteristics as well as social and family risk and protection factors associated with children with such problems are of great use for intervention planning and service organization for them and their families in Québec. In consequence, the objectives of this study are to identify the social, family and psychological factors that characterize children presenting conducts disorder. To do so, 62 children in treatment between the ages of 7 and 12 and with a diagnosis of conducts disorder are compared with 36 children of the same age without such diagnosis. Results show that children with conduct problems come from less stable and cohesive families as well as a lower socio-economic level. Moreover, their network of social support is less developed. The study reveals that the parents of children with conducts disorder use punishment more often. Finally, the research demonstrates that the children of this group have a much higher probability of presenting an exteriorized disorder (66 %) than the children of the other group (8 %). All these distinctive characteristics allows to correctly classify 93,8 % of the children of this study in the 2 groups. The results indicate the need to improve the parents'educational practices, increase the child's social network as well as reduce the conducts of opposition and inattention of the child. Finally, the complexity of the problems raised with the child and families commands a concerted professional intervention.