THE REASONS RELATED TO CONTINUITY OF BREASTFEEDING: A LITERATURE REVIEW

Abstract

 This study aimed to understand the reasons that interfere in the continuation of breastfeeding. For such, an integrative literature review was made as a database Virtual Health Library (VHL), in which it sought for articles on the subject, published from 2009. The descriptors to search were: Breastfeeding, Weaning and Breastfeeding Exclusive. From the analysis were selected eighteen articles, and it was possible to organize the same in three categories: Breastfeeding Exclusive’s Maintenance; Breastfeeding’s Maintenance and Interference of Cultural Beliefs on Breastfeeding. Thus, it was identified that the reasons that harm and favor the continuation of exclusive breastfeeding and breastfeeding are basically the same, and are interrelated. Among these, are: education level, maternal employment, number of children, maternal age, type of delivery and pacifier’s use. In the category Cultural Beliefs interference on Breastfeeding, the factors are: morphology of maternal breast and tea’s use. The realization of this literature integrative review enabled us to identify that health’s professionals need a reinforced commitment to deal with mothers and breastfeeding, seeking out clarify any doubts of mothers on breastfeeding, encouraging this practice it is important to the satisfactory child’s development.