ABSTRACT
The present study aims to evaluate the patterns of breast-feeding in a population of children depending on a Primary Attention Team. Its duration and any factors which may interfere with it were also studied. The breast-feeding period of 114 boys and 119 girls is reviewed. We found the following data: 85.2% of the mothers started to breast-feed their children. By the third month, 42.1% of them persisted with exclusive breast-feeding, whereas only 5.6% reached the sixth month. Commercial formulas were introduced as a result of health reasons in only 43.3% of the cases. The time of exclusive breast-feeding was significantly shorter (p < 0.05) in the children who required hospitalization during the breast-feeding, in the cases of mothers that smoke, when commercial formula was introduced at the mother's will and in those children who had a smaller weight at their birth and a smaller gestational age. After introduction of commercial formulas we observed a statistically significant increase in weight (p < 0.05). Nevertheless, the standard score of weight at six months of age, compared with that previous to the introduction of lacteal supplements, did not differ significantly.
