ABSTRACT
Objetivo: Identificar las características de las prácticas de lactancia materna, alimentación complementaria y las causas más comunes del cese del amamantamiento en la población que asiste al Jardín Infantil de la Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Sede Bogotá. Métodos: Se realizó un estudio descriptivo, cualitativo y cuantitativo, mediante la aplicación de una encuesta a los padres de todos los niños del Jardín, durante los años 2004 y 2005. Resultados
Objective: Identifying breast feeding and complementary feeding characteristics and the main causes of why mothers stop nursing amongst the population attending the Universidad Nacional's day-care centre. Methods: A descriptive, qualitative and quantitative study was carried out. The data for this study was obtained from a survey made of the kindergarten children's parents during 2004 and 2005. Results: 98 percent of the children received breast milk and 75 percent recognised its benefits for both mother and child. Only 21 percent of the children ceased to be breast fed six months after birth, this being the minimum age recommended by the WHO. 40 percent of the mothers keep breast feeding after 12 months. Conclusions: The elements resulting from analysing the surveys agreed with other countries' theories and experience; they also contributed to new considerations regarding the specific context of the Universidad Nacional's kindergarten.