[Some recent determinants of breast feeding in Chile]

Four factors that could explain in great part breast milk production difficulties in Chilean mothers are analyzed according to recent studies. Maternal nutritional status, positively influences breast milk volume and duration, thus adequate weight increment during pregnancy should be encouraged. Maternal work has been negatively correlated with breast-feeding duration in various local studies, by the contrary post-partum rest and direct care of infant show protective effects. Mothers that smoke during pregnancy and lactation have shorter breast-feeding periods than non smokers, meanwhile the latter have lower malnutrition rates. Elimination of health team practices that interfered with physiological lactation have increased breast-feeding time. New programs in this regard are encouraged. The presence at the national level of each of the four determinants is discussed according to available data.