Breastfeeding practices in Cuba: a comparison

ABSTRACT

The results of two Nationals Surveys on breastfeeding practices carried out in Cuba in 1973 and 1990 are compared with figures reported in different Caribbean countries during the same periods. The patterns found in 1973 show that a high proportion of infants were ever breast-fed and that the prevalences of overall breastfeeding decreased rapidly after the first month of life. Figures were lower that those reported by other countries of the region. In 1990 an important increase of breastfeeding prevalence and duration compared to 1973 was observed, showing the proportion of every breast-fed infants to be the highest in the area. Like in other countries, the initial prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding is low and the drop thereafter is more rapid and pronounced, a factor probably related to the early introduction of milk formulas and solid foods.