title: [Cultural practices about breastfeeding among families enrolled in a family health program].
abstract: The objective of this study was to identify the cultural practices about breastfeeding among families enrolled in a Family Health Program (FHP). This exploratory study was performed in the city of Pentecoste (Ceará, Brazil), with 15 mothers who showed some restrictive factor for breastfeeding. Data collection was through direct observation and semi-structured interviews. The analysis revealed empirical categories of pleasure in breastfeeding and the prevention of diseases; influence from family/community; and the difficulty to sustain breastfeeding. The mothers reported difficulties related to the practice of breastfeeding, a lack of adequate health service support involving not only biological but also social and cultural factors. There is a disconnection between the scientific discourse and families' everyday cultural practices.
authors.affiliation: Universidade de Fortaleza, Fortaleza, CE, Brasil. mirnafrota@unifor.br
authors.forename: Mirna Albuquerque
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Frota
authors.forename: Ana Lúcia e Silva
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Mamede
authors.forename: Luiza Jane Eyre de Souza
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Vieira
authors.forename: Conceição de Maria
authors.initials: Cde M
authors.lastname: de Albuquerque
authors.forename: Mariana Cavalcante
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Martins
mesh_terms: D001938:Brazil; D001942:Breast Feeding / Q000523:psychology; D003466:Cultural Characteristics; D005192:Family Health; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans