JOINED MOTHER-CHILD HOSPITAL LODGING AND EXCLUSIVE HUMAN LACTATION

Objective. To determine the influence of joined mother-child hospital lodging (JL) on the frequency of exclusive human lactation (EHL) from birth to four months of age. Material and methods. Non-randomized coho rt study performed at the lactation clinic of the ''Luis Castelazo Aya la'' Hospital of the Mexican Social Security Institute from January 19 93 to October 1994 which included 178 healthy mother-child pairs (MCP) with term pregnancy. The jointly lodged group (JL) consisted of 90 MC P in which mothers received assessment for lactation; 88 MCP were lodg ed separately and no assessment was provided. Results were statistical ly analyzed to determine frequency and variable associations. Results. Feeding was recorded as either EHL, powdered milk or both. Groups wit h or without JL were stratified by form of birth, either labor or Cesa rean section. With the Mantel-Haenszel X-2 and logarithmic range, diff erences were significant with p<0.05. During the study, global lactati on was similar among groups. In the first month, EHL was higher in the JL group, 61 vs 42% independently of the form of birth (p<0.05). The only variable which influenced EHL was JL. Conclusions. Mother-child J L favours EHL during the first month post-partum.