Factors determining the breastfeeding in children attending public and not-for-profit daycare centers in Sao Paulo, Brazil

Factors determining the breastfeeding in children attending public and not-for-profit daycare centers in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Cross-sectional study with 270 children and their mothers in eight public and philanthropic daycare centers in the city of Sao Paulo, Brazil. The objective is to identify the determinants of exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) and breastfeeding (BF). The Mann-Whitney/Wilcoxon test and survival analysis; Kaplan Meier curves and Cox multiple regression models were used for statistical analyses. The median of exclusive breastfeeding duration was 79.1 +/- 55.6 days and breastfeeding was 185.3 +/- 174.2 days. In multivariate analysis, the following risk factors of early weaning for exclusive breastfeeding were identified: pacifier use (HR = 1.65, 95% CI = 1.24 to 2.2); previous hospital admission (HR = 1.35,95% CI = 1.01 to 1.80); mother working outside home (HR = 1.33, 95% CI = 1.00 to 1.76). For breastfeeding were identified: pacifier use (HR = 2.54, 95% CI = 1.87 to 3.45) and mother who works outside the home (HR = 1.51, 95% Cl = 1.14 - 1 99). The results show that it is necessary to continue to promote and support breastfeeding, mainly the exclusive breastfeeding until six months of age. The daycare centers should incorporate this idea, once they may have direct control over some of the early weaning determinants, and are also good places to deliver messages and guidance on nutrition education to mothers and caregivers in contact with children under three years old.