TREND OF THE PRACTICE OF EXCLUSIVE BREASTFEEDING IN INFANTS LESS THAN 4 MONTHS IN PRIMARY CARE ASSISTED MACAÉ, RJ.

Abstract

Exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) is essential to the infant in the first 6 months of life because it meets their nutritional, psychosocial and cognitive needs. This study aimed to analyze the trend of the practice of exclusive breastfeeding in infants under 4 months assisted in the Family Health Strategy of the municipality of Macaé, RJ. We conducted a descriptive, quantitative study on secondary basis, between January 2007 and December 2013, with less than 4 months in infants assisted 30 units of the Family Health Strategy and 1 unit of Community Agents Program Health. Database SIAB/SUS – DATASUS, of Ministry of Health, was used and the following variables were collected: number of children under 4 months assisted in the Strategies/year and the monthly number of children under 4 months EBF/year. We calculated the proportions of the total number of children under 4 months EBF/year and the total number of assisted in Primary Health Network Macaé/age children. The software used was Microsoft Excel 2010. The proportions found in the practice of EBF in infants under 4 months were 72% in 2007; 70% in 2008; 73% in 2009; 72% in 2010; 71% in 2011; 72% in 2012; 77%, in 2013 it is concluded that the practice of EBF in infants younger than 4 months between 2007-2013 is above 70% with an increasing trend.