title: Exclusive breastfeeding in southern Brazil: prevalence and associated factors.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Worldwide strategies have been conducted in order to guarantee longer periods of exclusive breastfeeding for most children, especially those from developing countries. The evaluation of infant feeding practices and the identification of weaning risk factors are essential for public health policy planning.
  
  
  METHODS
  This cross-sectional study was carried out in Joinville, the biggest city of Santa Catarina State in the southern Brazilian region. The caregivers of children under 1 year of age were systematically selected for interview in previously drawn immunization units during the 2005 National Vaccination Campaign. A structured questionnaire was applied for collection of infant, maternal, and healthcare variables. A 24-hour food recall survey was included in order to evaluate infant feeding practices. Descriptive statistic analysis on breastfeeding prevalence and Poisson regression analysis of risk factors for discontinuing exclusive breastfeeding for infants up to 6 months of age were performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Caregivers of 1,470 infants were interviewed. The feeding inquiry showed an overall rate of breastfeeding of 72.5% and a frequency of exclusive breastfeeding of 43.7% and 53.9% among infants younger than 6 and 4 months of age, respectively. The findings associated with the interruption of exclusive breastfeeding for infants up to 6 months were: higher infant age (P < 0.001), pacifier use (P < 0.001), and lower maternal educational level (P = 0.013).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In developing countries, specific strategies must be created for the delivery of information about breastfeeding and the effect of pacifier use, especially for less educated women.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of the Region of Joinville, Joinville, Santa Catarina, Brazil. beanascimento@infomedica.com.br
authors.forename: Maria Beatriz R
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: do Nascimento
authors.forename: Marco A Moura
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Reis
authors.forename: Selma Cristina
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Franco
authors.forename: Hugo
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Issler
authors.forename: Alexandre A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Ferraro
authors.forename: Sandra Josefina F E
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Grisi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D001942:Breast Feeding / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007227:Infant Nutritional Physiological Phenomena / Q000502:physiology*; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008423:Maternal Age; D008875:Middle Aged; D009035:Mothers / Q000193:education* / Q000523:psychology*; D041361:Pacifiers / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015995:Prevalence; D011634:Public Health; D012307:Risk Factors; D014886:Weaning; D055815:Young Adult