[Breast feeding promotion: is health education effective?]

A program founded on health education, habitually realized in the national health centers to increase the breast-feeding practice, was evaluated. In 1990, in order to know social and economic characteristics and alimentation practices associated to the incidence and duration of breast-feeding, mothers answered a questionnaire at the first week and sixth month of their child's life. Some aspects about breast-feeding promotion in our country are discussed.