Aleitamento materno e introdução de alimentos complementares em crianças atendidas na atenção primária de um município do norte gaúcho

Abstract

To determine the prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding, mixed/complementary breastfeeding, and the prevalence of early introduction of complementary foods, and to identify the average age at which the introduction of foods and infant formula occurs. Method: A cross-sectional study of secondary data derived from electronic medical records of patients aged 0 to 12 years who received primary care in Marau - RS in 2019. Data on sociodemographic and clinical profiles, as well as information on breastfeeding (exclusive and mixed/complementary) and the age of introduction of complementary foods to breastfeeding and the age of formula initiation, were obtained. The data were entered into a database and statistical analyses of absolute and relative frequencies, as well as the prevalences of exclusive breastfeeding and early food introduction, were performed with a 95% confidence interval (CI 95%). Results: The sample consisted of a total of 1,264 patients, predominantly male children (50.9%), aged between 3 and 6 years (32.7%), of white ethnicity (76.2%), born via cesarean section (80.6%), and with adequate birth weight (82.7%). The prevalence of mixed/complementary breastfeeding was 47% (CI 95% 42-53) and exclusive breastfeeding was 38% (CI 95% 32-43) in a sample of 310 individuals. The prevalence of early introduction of complementary foods was 32% (CI 95% 25-40) and the average age of food introduction was 5.85 months (SD ±1.64) in a sample of 161. Finally, the average age of formula introduction was 1.69 months (SD ±1.98), n=160. Conclusion: The low prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding, along with the early introduction of complementary foods and excessive use of infant formulas, highlights the need for more effective policies and programs to promote healthy feeding practices from the first months of life.