Breastfeeding conditions of children under one year old in Ribeirão Preto, Brazil

Resumo

Introduction: Breastfeeding is essential for children’s growth and development. Fathers play a central role for the success of breastfeeding.

Objective: The aim of the study is to evaluate the profile of fathers of children under one year old, from Health Centres in Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil.

Methodology or experience description: A questionnaire about fathers’ social conditions and habits was applied to 58 mothers of children under one year old, who are attended in Health Centres in the northern district of Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil.

Results: Among the respondents, 16 (27.6%) women did not breastfeed their children, 7 (43.75%) of which were under 6 months. As for the fathers, 57 (98.27%) were older than 20. Nine (56.25%) children of fathers between 20 to 25 years old (27.58%) are breastfed. Out of 23 (39.95%) fathers from 26 to 30 years old, 17 (73.91%) have children who are still breastfed, and considering those between 36 and 40 years old (12.06%), 6 (85.71%) of their children are breastfed. Seventeen (26.31%) men concluded high school, and among these, 6 (35.29%) have their children breastfed. As for those who did not complete elementary school (37.93%), 6 (27.27%) have breastfed children.

Conclusions or Hypothesis: The older the fathers, the higher the chances of children under one year old being breastfed. The schooling of the fathers does not seem to influence breastfeeding.