Promoting, protecting and supporting breastfeeding in the decade of 2002-2012in the town of Embu das Artes, SP

Abstract

This article was carried out to describe trends in actions of breastfeeding promotion, protection and support, in the last ten years in the city of Embu das Artes, metropolitan area of great São Paulo. Study method: collection of documentary data fi le completed by key-informant interviews, active in the researched decade (2002-2012) in Embu das Artes. It was also applied a questionnaire to participants of breastfeeding courses performed in this decade. All fi ndings were confronted with the results of researches made in the city. The documents analyzed as well asthe interviews, show that there was some increase, according to the research data, where is possible to see an upward curve of 16% on exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) of 0-6 months in 2001 to 42% in 2010, with periods of stagnation and then dropping to 34% in 2012. The analysis of these fl uctuationsmight to estimatethat EBF improves when the actions are intensifi ed. According to the results of the study the actions performed in primary health care and the campaigns, are probably those most important to contribute to an increase in breastfeeding rates, although still short of recommended. There is no adequate routines pro-breastfeeding in maternity services, what shows the need of organize them, as well add protective elements of breastfeeding as the marketing of breastmilk substitutes with monitoring of the National Code - the so-called NBCAL (Brazilian Standard Food marketing and Products for Early Childhood), and the implementation of labor legislation for all women, to continue the increase of EBF levels