[Breastfeeding in two Brazilian State capitals: a comparative analysis]. / Situação do aleitamento materno em duas capitais brasileiras: uma análise comparada.

This paper describes rapid assessment of infant feeding practices based on surveys conducted on National Immunization Day in the cities of Florianópolis and João Pessoa, Brazil. Two different infant feeding patterns emerge clearly in the data analysis. Most infants begin breastfeeding, but exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) from 0-4 months (46.3% in Florianópolis and 23.9% in João Pessoa) and timely complementary feeding rates (32.2% in Florianópolis and 24.8% in João Pessoa) are below recommended standards. EBF and breastfeeding duration medians were 53 and 238 days, respectively, in Florianópolis and 16.5 and 195 days, respectively, in João Pessoa. The results pointed to increasing breastfeeding rates and duration medians in Florianópolis as compared to João Pessoa. Use of these data could improve planning and monitoring of breastfeeding activities and infant nutrition policies.

[Planning of a human milk bank and information center on breast feeding]. / Planejamento de banco de leite humano e central de informações sobre aleitamento materno.

PIP: The planning of activities and the layout of the Human Milk Bank and Information Center on Breastfeeding of the Carmela Dutra Maternity Hospital of the Santa Catarina Hospital Foundation (Brazil) are presented. The implantation of this service seeks to attend to the necessities of babies under treatment in Intensive Care Units of the Maternity and other children's hospitals in this Foundation. Besides collecting, analyzing, sorting, and processing adequately the milk donated by volunteer wet nurses, educational and promotional activities related to breast feeding are carried out in the community and among health professionals. (author's modified)^ieng