Objective Evaluate the association between breastfeeding, exclusive breastfeeding at six months and the introduction of complementary feeding and the pre-pandemic and COVID-19 pandemic periods. Methods Cohort study conducted with puerperal women and their newborns in the immediate postpartum period at a reference maternity hospital in Southern Brazil between 2018-2020. The COVID-19 pandemic period and the need to work outside the home during restricted circulation were the factors of exposure. The outcome evaluated was the weaning in the first six months (breastfeeding and exclusive breastfeeding) and the introduction of complementary feeding before the sixth month of life. Results 547 puerperal women and their newborns were included. During the COVID-19 pandemic, there was a higher risk to weaning of exclusive breastfeeding up until six months (RR 1.16; 95%CI 1.03-1.31) and introducing complementary feeding early (RR 1.40; 95%CI 1.01-1.96). The need to work outside the home during the COVID-19 pandemic increased the risk of not breastfeeding exclusively at the sixth month (RR 1.27; 95%CI 1.08-1.49). Conclusions The difficulties of the pandemic did reflect negatively on breastfeeding and complementary feeding practices. The pandemic was a risk factor for the early weaning of exclusive breastfeeding and the introduction of complementary feeding. However, not having to work outside the home during the pandemic period was a protective factor for exclusive breastfeeding at six months.

Objectives: to evaluate and identify the prevalence of interruption of breastfeeding (BF) in the period of up to 45 days postpartum and the associated sociodemographic and obstetric factors. Methods: cohort of 622 puerperal women, selected between 2018 and 2019 in a reference maternity hospital in the South Brazil. Data collection was carried out in two phases, the first in the maternity hospital during hospitalization of the puerperal woman and the newborn and the second through a telephone call, which occurred 60 days after birth. Poisson regressions with robust variance were performed to identify the factors associated with interruption of BF in the first 45 days of life. The variables that presented p<0.20 in the crude analysis were included in the adjusted analysis. Results: the interruption of BF at 45 days was identified in 14% of the sample. Higher maternal age (PR= 0.46; CI95%= 0.22-0.93), eight years or less of education (PR= 2.11; CI95%= 1.05-4.25), support from the maternal grandmother (PR= 1.91; CI95%= 1.20-3.06) and receiving complement at the maternity hospital (PR= 1.53; CI95%= 1.04-2.25) were factors related to the interruption of BF in the 45-day postpartum period. Conclusion: maternal age ≥35 was a protective factor, and less education, the support of the maternal grandmother and receiving complement at the maternity hospital were predictors of early breastfeeding abandonment.

We verified the prevalence of adequacy in prenatal care considering nutritional assistance and associated factors. It is a cross-sectional study, part of Maternar Cohort Study, conducted between 2018-2019 in Southern Brazil. Women were interviewed during hospitalization in the immediate postpartum period and data were collected from the prenatal chart. Prenatal adequacy and nutritional care were assessed according to criteria from the Brazilian Ministry of Health. Two outcome models were constructed. Outcome 1 consisted of minimal coverage (early prenatal start and minimum number of visits) and exams, and Outcome 2 comprised minimal coverage, exams, and nutritional assistance. Poisson regression was used to estimate prevalence ratios. A total of 802 women were analyzed, and we identified 57% of adequacy of Outcome 1. Unplanned pregnancy (PR = 0.76; 95%CI: 0.68-0.86), parity (PR = 0.88; 95%CI: 0.83-0.94) and prenatal care outside Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul State (PR = 0.80; 95%CI: 0.69-0.92), were associated with lower prenatal adequacy frequencies. Outcome 2 was considered adequate for 10.2% of women. Follow-up by different professionals during prenatal care was associated with lower adequacy (PR = 0.49; 95%CI: 0.28-0.86). Women with high-risk pregnancies had a higher frequency of adequacy in Outcome 1 (PR = 1.21; 95%CI: 1.07-1.37) and in Outcome 2 (PR = 1.75; 95%CI: 1.16-2.64). General adequacy was considered low in both outcomes. There was a lack of nutritional assistance during prenatal care. Characteristics such as pregnancy planning, lower parity, prenatal care in Porto Alegre, follow-up by the same professional and high-risk pregnancy were predictors for the adequacy of prenatal care.