Fatores associados ao desmame precoce : auto eficácia no aleitamento materno e depressão pós-natal

Abstract

Objective: To determine factors associated with the length of exclusive breastfeeding at two hospitals, a baby-friendly hospital and one general hospital, and relate them to the scores of the Breastfeeding Self Efficacy Scale and the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale. Methods: We conducted a descriptive and analytical cohort study of 300 binomials of mother-babies that were born in two hospitals: one at the general hospital and the other at a baby-friendly hospital. The inclusion criteria were: children with birth weight of 2,500 g or less, gestational age above 36 weeks and residents in urban areas. At the hospitals maternities, data were collected from medical records, questions to mothers were asked and the Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Scale was applied. Every 15 days, the mother was contacted and asked if she was still exclusively breastfeeding and the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale-EPDS was applied four months after giving birth. Results: Among the births, 53% were male, 52% were at a baby-friendly hospital and 55% were normal deliveries. The mothers had a mean age of 26 years and a mean gestational age of 39 weeks. The average maternal breastfeed score was 36 points while the score for the Edinburgh Scale was that 36% of the mothers had a tendency of depression. Only 34% of the mothers had up to eight years of education, 57% of them worked outside the home, 13% of them were single and 61% had 7-13 prenatal consultations. At 30 days, the frequency of exclusive breastfeeding was of 86% while only 49% of the babies were breastfed exclusively at 120 days of life. In the multivariate analysis, the variables of exclusive breastfeeding at 60 days showing risk factors were the hospital not being baby friendly (p=0,002), the mother's schooling (up to 8 years of study) (p=0,004) and a working mother (p=0,013). The highest Breastfeeding test score (p=0,016) was for the protection factor of exclusive breastfeeding. At 120 days, it was evaluated that the variables shown as protection factors were the mother's age (p=0,039) and the Breastfeed test score (p=0,046). Conclusions: The risk factors associated with exclusive breastfeeding during the 60 days at a hospital that is not baby friendly are the mother's schooling (up to 8 years) and whether she works or not. The highest Breastfeed score was the exclusive breastfeeding protection factor. At 120 days, the variables shown as exclusive breastfeeding protection factors were the mother's age and the Breastfeed test score.