[Promotion of breastfeeding: the importance of pediatricians with specific training].
OBJECTIVE
To study the factors involved in the maintenance of exclusive breastfeeding in healthy infants during the first 4 months of life, with emphasis on the role of pediatricians.


METHODS
A longitudinal study was carried out with 101 healthy term babies at a pediatrics outpatient clinic in Uberaba, state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. The babies were divided at random into three groups: G1, receiving advice from a multiprofessional breastfeeding team; G2, receiving advice from a pediatrician trained in breastfeeding; and G3, receiving advice from a pediatrician with no breastfeeding training. Group randomization was confirmed by analysis of variance. The factors involved in the type of feeding at 4 months were analyzed by the chi-square test, by analysis of variance and by multiple variable analysis.


RESULTS
At the end of follow-up, Groups 1 and 2 showed similar percentages with respect to exclusive breastfeeding. In addition, the percentage of exclusively breastfed babies in Groups 1 and 2 was significantly higher than in Group 3 (p = 0.002). The use of a pacifier was negatively correlated with exclusive breastfeeding (p = 0.003). More maternal schooling increased the chance of exclusive breastfeeding at 4 months (p = 0.041).


CONCLUSIONS
In this study, a pediatrician who was prepared and motivated to encourage breastfeeding performed similarly to a multiprofessional breastfeeding team in terms of promoting exclusive breastfeeding until 4 months.
Santiago
Luciano B
LB
Faculdade de Medicina do Triângulo Mineiro, Uberaba, MG, Brazil. lucianborges@mednet.com.br
Bettiol
Heloisa
H
Barbieri
Marco A
MA
Guttierrez
Manoel R P
MR
Del Ciampo
Luiz A
LA
D001938:Brazil; D001942:Breast Feeding / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004502:Education, Medical, Continuing; D004522:Educational Status; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D005260:Female; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D009042:Motivation; D041361:Pacifiers; D010372:Pediatrics / Q000193:education*; D010819:Physician's Role; D013997:Time Factors