Prevalence of breastfeeding and reasons for prescribing infant formula innewborns with a birth weight greater than 2.5 kg in the Regional Specialized Maternal and Child Hospital “V. Tetamanti”, Buenos Aires, Argentina
Keywords:
Lactancia, Prevalencia, Lactancia materna parcial, Fórmulas infantilesAbstract
Introduction: Exclusive breastfeeding (EB) is the best nutrition for newborns. The postpartum individual and their child require qualified support to promote breastfeeding and overcome potential difficulties.
Objectives: To identify the prevalence of breastfeeding, the criteria for prescribing infant formula, and their
link to clinical and epidemiological characteristics during the stay of the postpartum individual and their child at the Regional Specialized Maternal and Child Hospital ¨Don Victorio Tetamanti¨, Mar del Plata, in 2023.
Methods: Quantitative, descriptive, and analytical study. Data were collected from medical records, and
other secondary sources between July and October 2023. Epi Info 7.2 and Stata 15 were used for the analysis.
Results: The demographic characteristics of 300 postpartum individuals and their children were analyzed. The prevalence of breastfeeding was 93.6% (281), of which 88.3% (265) was exclusive, and 5.3% (16) partial. Formula feeding was exclusive in 6.3% (19) of cases. The
main reason for exclusive formula prescription was toxic substance
consumption, accounting for 89.4% (17). An association was found
(p=0.04) between EB and attendance at prenatal classes; and a connection between the studied breastfeeding and a previous successful breastfeeding experience (p= 0.01).
Discussion: The prevalence and reasons for prescribing formula do not seem to differ from data reported in breastfeeding studies. These results
cannot be extrapolated to the entire population of postpartum individuals attending this Institution. However, a trend can be identified, which is useful for data interpretation, and for the
implementation of strategies that effectively promote breastfeeding.
Conclusions: Formula prescription is low, with toxic substance consumption being the primary reason. Prenatal
breastfeeding education and a previous successful breastfeeding
experience are associated with greater success in initiating
breastfeeding immediately after delivery.
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Copyright (c) 2025 Lorena Lázaro Cuesta, Julia Coronel, Alina Guarino Barrutia, Celeste Guido, María Emilia Di Croce, Oscar Jesús de la Cruz Gago, Mailen Lara Marchetti, Agustina Magalí Caro, Lucrecia Miranda, Sergio Rodríguez
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