A SURVEY OF BREAST-FEEDING AND OTHER INFA NT-FEEDING PRACTICES IN RURAL MEXICO

Objective, To determine the prevalence of lactation, the use of indust rialized milk and weaning, and the factors related to lack of breast-f eeding and early weaning in young infants of rural communities. Materi al and methods, Transversal study performed by last year medical stude nts doing Social Service in 222 rural communities in Mexico who applie d structured interviews to 5 409 families with children younger than I year of age. Results. The percentages of children who were never brea st-fed were: in the north (N) 21.4%, in the center (C) 7.6% and in the south (S) 5.3%. Children who were still being breast-fed, either excl usively or with mixed feeding by the third trimester were 35.6% (N), 6 7.6% (C) and 77.5% (S); in the second trimester, 67.2% (N), 40.9% (C) and 51.6% (S) had been weaned. In the N region it was observed that la ck of breast-feeding was associated to the health personnel who attend ed delivery, mothers with six or more years of education ind less than four children, dwellings with permanent material floors, two or more household commodities and a head of the family different from the fath er. Early weaning Nas essentially associated to the same factors; addi tionaly, to the child being taken care of by someone different rom the mother, artificial lactation by parental decision or due to medical r ecommendation and the use of health services provided by social securi ty or private physicians. Conclusions, Artificial lactation and early weaning are typical of small families, with high educational level of the mother, better living conditions and contact with medical personne l, especially in the N of the country. Children are weaned before the second semester of life and it is therefore deemed necessary to implem ent health programs which promote breast-feeding and gradual weaning a fter the sixth month of life among the infant population of Mexican ru ral communities.