[Maternal knowledge on breastfeeding and related factors]. / Conhecimentos maternos em amamentação e fatores associados.

The influence of maternal knowledge about breastfeeding on the initiation and duration of lactation has been described. The present study evaluated the maternal knowledge about breastfeeding and its relationship with prenatal and postnatal orientation and prevalence of breastfeeding at 3 months. A cross-sectional study was designed involving 100 mothers of first-born babies between 6 and 12 months old receiving medical care in the Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre. The mothers answered a standardized questionnaire containing 14 questions to test knowledge on breastfeeding. The majority of mothers (62%) could not answer correctly half of the questions. Those more educated, who received prenatal orientation about breastfeeding and who had at least 5 prenatal visits had better knowledge. On the other hand, mothers who received postnatal orientation did not present a better knowledge. Prevalence of breastfeeding at 3 months was not related to maternal knowledge on the subject. The maternal knowledge about many aspects of breastfeeding was low. Postnatal orientation did not increase this knowledge. On the other hand, prenatal orientation had a positive impact on maternal knowledge about breastfeeding. Nonetheless this increase in knowledge was not sufficient to interfere with the prevalence of early interruption of breastfeeding.

[Follow-up of children with moderate or severe malnutrition in the peripheral population (Brazil)]. / Seguimento de crianças com desnutrição moderada ou grave em população periférica (Brasil).

What happens to children who develop moderate or severe malnutrition? What is done for them? Keeping in mind these questions, the present research was undertaken with the following objectives: to assess the nutritional status of children who develop moderate or severe malnutrition before the age of 5 years, after a period from 2 to 4 years after diagnosis; to assess the nutritional status of the under 5-year old siblings of these children; to study the influence of nutritional programs available in the community for the improvement of the nutritional status of the malnourished children; and to identify factors interfering with nutrition of these children during the study period. After a period of 2 to 4 years from the time of diagnosis of moderate or severe malnutrition the authors tried to locate the families of 61 malnourished children of Porto Alegre, RS (Brazil). The mothers their substitutes were interviewed and the children and siblings under 5 years of age were weighed and measured. Thirty-nine children were located. Of these, 4 (10%) died and 22 (56%) presented an increase of at least 10% in weight for age. Of the 35 children who survived, 29 (82%) still presented some degree of malnutrition (weight/age < or = 90% of the standard), 25 (71%) were stunted (height/age < or = 95%), and 5 (14%) were wasted (weight/height < or = 90%). The nutritional status of the 5-year old siblings was similar to that of the malnourished children.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Risk factors for early termination of breast feeding in Brazil.

A prospective study was undertaken to identify possible factors related to the duration of breast feeding. Two hundred and thirty-eight mothers who had delivered normal single babies with birth weights greater than 2.5 kg and had initiated breast feeding were randomly selected at the maternity hospital, Hospital de Clinicas de Porto Alegre, Brazil, and followed by mail questionnaires until termination of breast feeding, or until the end of the first year. If no reply was received, telephone contact or home visits were made. The group of mothers who stopped breast feeding prior to the end of the third month was compared with those who extended breast feeding beyond three months with respect to socioeconomic, biological, environmental, medical and psychological factors. The variables with a significant coefficient of association with early termination of breast feeding were maternal education, past experience with breast feeding, help of a maid, help with housework provided by a relative, breast feeding orientation during prenatal care and encouragement from the husband. These factors act simultaneously, with interactions among them.