RESUMO
PIP: The variables involved in the duration of breastfeeding were analyzed in a group of 60 mothers in Mexico who were followed from delivery until 6 months postpartum. 2 groups were formed: women without any previous breastfeeding experience (primipara) and women with previous experience (multipara). The analysis was performed by step wise regression, grouping the variables in 2 classification systems. The 1st, which was according to temporal proximity to breastfeeding practice, divided the variables into predisposing prenatal, early, and late neonatal factors. The 2nd, according to the level of organization, used the following categories: social, biological, and behavioral motivation. The results show that both groups of mothers base their breastfeeding on the confidence that they have in their own breastfeeding capacity. For the primiparal, this confidence is expressed by age, the advantages they found in nonhuman milk, their milk production, the difficulty they had in establishing breastfeeding during the 1st days, and their anticipation of future breastfeeding problems. The multiparal base their confidence on their prior experience in addition to the previously mentioned factors. The multivariate regression for the primipara explained 98.41% of the variance. Of the 3 significant variables, early postpartum contact accounted for 74.43%. In the case of multiparal, 66.70% of the variance was explained by variables. Of these, the starting age of supplementation was negatively related and explained 47.14% of the variance.^ieng
