Allattamento al seno: prevalenza e fattori ostacolanti.
Indagine di un osservatorio consultoriale di Cagliari

Aims and setting - Estimating the prevalence of full breastfeeding (BF) at six months after birth and factors associated to earlier interruption. Evaluating the effectiveness of Public Primary Maternal and Child Health Services (PPMCHSs) in promoting, protecting and supporting breastfeeding among mothers that attended antenatal classes (AC), organised by five PPMCHSs in Cagliari area, during the period January 1st 2001 and December 31 2005. Materials and methods - All mothers who attended AC were offered an interview after one month and at six months from delivery. Collected data regarded way of delivery, status of breastfeeding (24h recall), access to postnatal activities performed by PPMCHSs, age, education, occupation and parity. Three groups were considered for comparison: a) BF > 5 months, b) BF ≤ 5months, c) BF < 1 month. Results and conclusions - Out of 1,166 women who attended AC during the considered period 1,060 (90.9%) accepted the interview. BF at six months after birth was recorded for 63.5% of interviewed mothers. Use of formula milk during birth centre stay and the condition of housewife resulted associated to earlier interruption of BF. On the contrary, attending postnatal activities at PPMCHSs was associated to longer persistence of BF. The comparison of these results with those obtained by other investigations in Cagliari and elsewhere confirms the positive role of AC and postnatal visits at PPMCHSs in promoting, protecting and supporting breastfeeding.