ALEITAMENTO MATERNO EM CRIANÇAS BENEFICIÁRIAS DO PROGRAMA BOLSA FAMÍLIA

Abstract

To evaluate the breastfeeding situation in children under one year old assisted by the Bolsa Família Program in the 13th Health Region of Ceará.  A retrospective, descriptive, transversal study carried out in the 13th Region of Ceará, with children under one year of age, of both sexes, registered and monitored by the Sistema de Vigilância Alimentar e Nutricional (SISVAN) from the Bolsa Família Program during the years 2006 to 2008. Data collection was done through the website of the Department of Informatics of the Unified Health System (DATASUS). Statistical methods and frequency analyzes were used to analyze the data.  Regarding the data on the situation of breastfeeding, the eight municipalities calculated 29 exclusive, 65 predominant, 128 complementary and 480 do not receive breastfeeding. Although there is a low prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding among the children being monitored, in most of them there was an eutrophic nutritional status. The results of the different forms of breastfeeding show that exclusive breastfeeding was lower when compared to other forms of breastfeeding. Considering the nutritional status, the present study demonstrated a higher prevalence of eutrophy in this population.