Factors related to the early abandonment of exclusive breast feeding

Abstract

Introduction: Breast feeding is the best food for babies. The family doctor, should identify the conditions related to the abandonment of exclusive breast feeding, before the six months old.

Objective:  To describe the factors related to the early abandonment of exclusive breast feeding. Methods:  A descriptive, cross-sectional study was carried out, the universe was formed by 53 mothers and 54 children, from ¨Ramón López Peña¨ Policlinic, in Santiago de Cuba, from June, 2019 to May, 2020. Socio-demographic variables were studied, the maternal factors and the ones related to the child. Descriptive statistical techniques were studied such as: frequency, percentage and average.

 Results:  The maternal mean age was 25.2 years old, 60.4 % were workers and 69.8 %, were married. The 62.3 % were primiparas and 55 % had other children, others had breastfed before. Besides, 24.1% of the children, were admitted in the Neonatology Service, 18.5 % were low weight new born. About delactation, 77.4 % had little mother´s milk, the 75.5 %, pointed that her child was not full and did not increase his/her weight. All mothers received information about this topic and 88.7 %, had adequate knowledge.

 Conclusions: Socio-demographic variables and mothers´ knowledge, do not seem to influence on delectation age in this population. Nevertheless, factors such as low weight new born and hospital admissions, can affect breastfeeding lasting; although mothers report as hypo galactic causes, rejection to the breasts and limited weight gain in the child.