Características maternas e perfil da alimentação complementar de crianças do município de serra Branca - PB.

Abstract

Breastfeeding should be exclusive for the first six months of the child's life, and maintained completed form up to two years or more. Complementary feeding should be introduced from six months through a variety of foods that provide the nutrients needed to meet the child's nutritional needs. Some factors such as economic and socio-cultural conditions of the family, as well as maternal characteristics can influence the supply of food for the child. The objective of this research to evaluate maternal characteristics and the sociocultural context influencing the exclusive breastfeeding period and complementary feeding in period of children under two years of the municipality of Serra Branca-PB. This is a cross-sectional descriptive field research conducted with mothers of children who were in complementary feeding phase, the urban area of the municipality of Serra Branca, constituting a sample of 94 mothers. Through adapted questionnaire, questions were raised about breastfeeding, foods of complementary feeding, timing of introduction of the same, consistency, maternal characteristics and economic and socio-cultural aspects of the family. Only 19,1% of mothers exclusively breastfed until recommended age. Mothers who were not breastfeeding during the survey, 58% were aged between 16 to 25 years. Exclusive breastfeeding was interrupted mainly by the introduction of water, tea and other milks. The food offered in complementary feeding, understood and appropriate regional foods such as: vegetables, beans, meat and tubers and foods not recommended as industrialized juices, soft drinks, snacks, among others. The consistency of the paste food was offered mostly (77,7%) in the appropriate period, and 68,1% had offered solid food between 6 and 12 months old. About 92,6% of mothers were counseled on breastfeeding during pregnancy, 80,9% after delivery and 75,5% were oriented as complementary feeding. Family members and friends were seen as determinants of food choices, with 52,1%. Through the results of this study allowed to identify the duration of breastfeeding, the period of introduction of complementary feeding and food which were part of this power, as well as the determinants for the feeding practices of children under two years of the municipality of Serra Branca-PB. In order to better outcomes for infant feeding, it is necessary to create new strategies to promote breastfeeding and the introduction of appropriate complementary feeding in the city.