[Influence of primary care personnel on breastfeeding duration]. / Influencia del personal sanitario de asistencia primaria en la prevalencia de la lactancia materna.

Background Breastfeeding duration in Spanish neonates does not fulfill the recommendations of the World Health Organization.ObjectiveTo report the results of a policy of breastfeeding support in a primary care center.Material and methodsWe performed a before-and-after intervention study of all mothers of children born in Ulldecona who decided to breast feed in 1992, 1993, 1996 and 1997 (control group: 125 infants), and from August 1999-August 2001 (72 infants). Study variable: in May 1999 a breastfeeding support policy was initiated in the primary care center.ResultsBreastfeeding duration increased (in the control group the mean duration of exclusive breastfeeding was 18.8 weeks; from 1999 to 2001 it was 28 weeks). Negative factors for breastfeeding were the birth of twins, introduction of a supplement, and education (there was an inverse relationship between greater education and breastfeeding duration). Duration of breastfeeding was longer in Moroccan mothers. Sex, gestational age, weight, type of delivery, separation between mother and neonate, maternal age, previous children, and work outside the home did not influence breastfeeding duration. Simple lineal regression revealed that the intervention was effective (P 0.046). Early hypogalactia and breast problems decreased, and voluntary weaning increased (P < 0.001).ConclusionThe primary care team plays key role in the maintenance of breastfeeding and in the well-being of the mother and neonate.

[Breast-feeding in southern Catalonia. Epidemiological analysis of sociocultural and health factors influencing choice and duration]. / Lactancia materna en el sur de Cataluña. Estudio de los factores socioculturales ysanitarios que influyen en su elección y mantenimiento.

OBJECTIVE: To study the incidence and prevalence of breast-feeding and to determine the factors that influence the mother's decision to breast-feed or to use adapted milk. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Two hundred families were included in a survey in the hospital's maternity department. Those who breast-fed were followed up by means of a telephone call on days 15, 30, 90, and 180. RESULTS: On leaving hospital 78% of the neonates were receiving breast milk only. After 15 days, 89.7% of the neonates continued to receive breast milk and at 6 months this figure was 39%. Breast-feeding was discontinued after a mean of 2.5 months. The mean age of mothers who breast-fed was 30.2 years and that of mothers using adapted milk was 27.9 years (p,0.05). Mothers decided on the type of feeding before pregnancy (52.5%). This decision was unchanged by prenatal information except in the case of information provided by the family, especially if both parents were breast-fed (p,0.05). Doctors provided little information. The mother's level of education did not influence the decision to breast-feed although the higher the mother's education, the greater the tendency to breast-feed (74.7% with primary education vs 81.5% with higher education). Being in paid employment did not influence the decision to breast-feed (76% of mothers worked vs 79% of mothers who did not). The main reasons for discontinuance were hypogalactia, "feeling hungry", and work. In general, giving up breast-feeding was the mother's decision. CONCLUSIONS: The information pregnant women receive on breast-feeding should be based on unified criteria. The implementation of joint protocols between primary and hospital care as well as breast-feeding support groups help mothers to begin and continue breast-feeding.

Lactancia materna en el sur de Cataluña. Estudio de los factores socioculturales y sanitarios que influyen en su elección y mantenimiento / Breast-feeding in southern catalonia. Epidemiological analysis of sociocultural and health factors influencing choice and duration

Objetivo: Investigar la incidencia y prevalencia de la lactancia materna y conocer los factores que influyen en la decisión materna. Material y método: En la maternidad del hospital se pasó una encuesta a 200 familias. A los que recibían lactancia materna se les hizo un seguimiento mediante encuesta telefónica a los 15, 30, 90 y 180 días. Resultados: El 78% recibían lactancia materna exclusiva al alta. A los 15días seguía el 89,7% y a los 6 meses el 39%. La media de abandono fue 2,5 meses. La edad media de la madre que lacta es 30,2 años y la de artificial es del 27,9 años (p,0,05). Las madres toman la decisión del tipo de alimentación antes del embarazo (52,5%). La información recibida preparto no cambia su decisión, excepto la procedente de su familia, sobre todo si ambos padres fueron amamantados por lactancia materna (p,0,05). El grado de información recibida de los médicos es bajo. El nivel de estudios no influye, aunque la tendencia es cuanto más alto sea éste, más lactancia materna (74,7% primarios frente a 81,5% superiores). El trabajar o no, no influye (76% de las que trabajan frente a 79% de las que no). Los motivos principales de abandono fueron hipogalactia, "se queda con hambre", y trabajo (14%). El abandono en general lo decide la madre. Conclusiones: La información acerca de la lactancia materna que han de recibir las gestantes ha de basarse en criterios unificados. La puesta en marcha de protocolos conjuntos primaria-hospital y la creación de "Grupos de ayuda a la lactancia" facilita a las madres la decisión y el mantenimiento de ésta (AU)