Nascer em hospital amigo da criança no Rio de Janeiro: um fator de proteção ao aleitamento materno?

Abstract

Although there are sufficient evidences about breastfeeding (BF) benefits, only 35% of infants worldwide are exclusively breastfed during the first four months of life. As an effort to extend BF duration, WHO/UNICEF launched the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI), which establishes hospitals accreditation as Baby-Friendly Hospitals (BFH) when it meets the Ten Steps for Successful Breastfeeding. This dissertation aims to investigate the effectiveness of the BFHI on exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) and exclusive plus predominant breastfeeding (EPBF) duration. This is a cross-sectional study with collected information throughout interviews of 811 mothers of children under 5 months old, randomly selected at five health centers in Rio de Janeiro. Exposure variable was classified according to hospital s compliance with the Ten Steps. There were three possible status: accredited hospitals (BFH), working in becoming BFH or certified hospitals (CBFH) and hospitals without BFHI accreditation or certification. Outcomes were EBF and EPBF duration. Data was analyzed by complementary log-log transformation models, which allowed capture cohort longitudinal experience through 7-day feeding recordatory and infants age ( current status data ). Even after adjusting analysis for sociodemographic, life style and psychological maternal factors, health service s use and babies age and state of health, there was longer duration of EBF and EPBF of infants born in BFH and CBFH. EBF and EPBF rates were twice higher in newborns born in BFH and CBFH. This protective effect on EBF and EPBF decreases along child s age and it s noticed until four (CBFH) and two (BFH) months of age when EBF is considered and until two (CBFH) and five (EBF) months for EPBF. The finding indicates the effectiveness of BFHI in maintaining EBF and EPBF through the first months of life in this population. In order to extend BF duration until six months of life, as recommended by WHO, it would be necessary not only to strengthen the BFHI but also to develop and encourage more actions in favor of breastfeeding, focusing on primary health care facilities