[Dietary habits during lactation in the Llerena (Badajoz) health area]

To analyse the feeding habits used for nursing children in the Llerena Health Area (Badajoz).

A descriptive and inferential study, using questionnaires given to the mothers.

Schools chosen at random from the eight health districts which make up the above-stated Health Area.

Mothers (N = 369) of school-children in the first to eighth years of EGB (basic) for the 1991-2 school year.

We studied the type of feeding used, finding 29.15% exclusive breast-feeding, 46.5% mixed and 24.2% bottle. We investigated the average time of breast-feeding (4.7 months) and how supplementary feeding (Beikost) was started: usually with cereals (at 4.7 months), fruit (5.16 months) and vegetables, meat and fish (7.27 months). We found that advice on the lacteal preparation used for mixed and bottle lactation was provided by health professionals in 84.2% of cases and in lay persons, 15.8%. The most common reasons for stopping breast-feeding were Hypogalactia in 64.6% of cases and work in 23.1%. There was more exclusive breast-feeding in the lowest socio-economic classes (p < 0.05) and among older mothers (p < 0.05).

Findings were satisfactory concerning the way these children were milk-fed and the introduction of supplementary feeding. We noted a tendency in favour of breast-feeding. The social and work-related changes in womens' lives are having a decisive influence on the feeding practices of nursing children.