BREAST-FEEDING DURATION AND GROWTH OF FULLY BREAST-FED INFANTS IN A POOR URBAN CHILEAN POPULATION

The duration of breast-feeding and the growth of fully breast-fed infa nts during the first year of life were analyzed according to sex, birt h weight, characteristics of the mother, and breast-feeding pattern. A ll infants (n = 1217) were healthy and fully breast-fed at 30 d postpa rtum and 63% and 24% were still fully breast-fed at 6 and 12 mo, respe ctively. The median ages at introduction of nondairy food and of milk supplements were 6.0 and 7.4 mo, respectively. The probability of rema ining fully breast-fed for 12 mo was significantly higher in infants w ith higher birth weight and higher maternal weight, and in infants who breast-fed seven times a day or more in the first 6 mo. The compariso n of the monthly weight and length of fully breast-fed infants with th e World Health Organization/National Center for Health Statistics refe rence data showed the adequacy of breast-feeding to support infant gro wth. When mothers and infants are healthy, breast milk is sufficient t o support adequate infant growth and health during the first months of life. The main variables that affect the duration of breast-feeding, nutrition and suckling frequency, are susceptible to interventions by health services. The results reinforce the need to care for maternal n utrition during pregnancy and to provide the support that women need t o sustain a high suckling frequency.