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Breastfeeding and pacifier use in Brazil
Antonio J Ledo Alves da Cunha1, Alvaro Madeiro Leite2, Marcia Maria Tavares Machado3
1Institute of pediatrics, Ceará Federal University, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. acunha@hucff.ufrj.br.
Indian Journal of Pediatrics
|April 6, 2017
Summary
Pacifier use significantly shortens exclusive breastfeeding duration in low-income Brazilian infants. This finding highlights pacifier use as a marker for early weaning, aiding health workers in identifying mothers needing breastfeeding support.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Pediatrics
- Maternal and Child Nutrition
Background:
- Exclusive breastfeeding is crucial for infant health, especially in vulnerable populations.
- Understanding factors influencing breastfeeding duration is vital for targeted interventions.
- Low birth weight and socioeconomic status are known risk factors for suboptimal infant feeding practices.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between pacifier use and the duration of exclusive breastfeeding.
- To examine this relationship in a cohort of low-income infants with unfavorable birth weight in Brazil.
- To identify potential implications for public health interventions aimed at promoting breastfeeding.
Main Methods:
- A prospective cohort study followed 500 infants from birth to six months.
- Infants were selected based on unfavorable birth weight (<3,000g) and exclusive breastfeeding status.
- Pacifier use was assessed at one and six months, with survival analysis and Cox Proportional Hazard Model used for data analysis.
Main Results:
- Approximately 60% of infants used pacifiers by one month of age.
- Pacifier users breastfed exclusively for an average of 125.3 days, compared to 87.0 days for non-users (p=0.0001).
- Pacifier use increased the likelihood of stopping exclusive breastfeeding by six months by 1.9 times, even after adjusting for confounders.
Conclusions:
- Pacifier use is significantly associated with early cessation of exclusive breastfeeding in the studied population.
- Pacifier use can serve as an indicator for early weaning.
- Health workers can utilize this marker to identify mothers requiring additional support and counseling to sustain breastfeeding practices.