A RANDOMIZED INTERVENTION TRIAL TO INCREA SE BREAST-FEEDING PREVALENCE IN SOUTHERN BRAZIL

A randomized intervention trial to promote breast-feeding was carried out in southern Brazil. A group of 450 mothers and babies was visited at home 5, 10 and 20 days after birth and compared to a non-visited co ntrol group of the same size. Ninety-two per cent of the families visi ted received the three home visits planned. The evaluation of breast-f eeding patterns and reasons for weaning took place 6 months after birt h for both groups. Ninety-four per cent of the group visited and 92% o f the non-visited controls group were traced on the occasion of the as sessment. The intervention increased the duration of breastfeeding (me dian duration of 120 days in the group visited and 105 days in the con trols; p=0.03) and delayed the introduction of milk bottles (median ag e of introduction of 90 days in the group visited and 60 days in the c ontrols; p=0.01). Causes of weaning were classified as underlying, int ermediate and immediate. The most common underlying cause of weaning w as ''the baby cried too much'', which suggests that mothers should be taught about normal patterns of infant behaviour in the first weeks of life, particularly the need for crying, and the fact that this not ne cessarily reflects hunger.