Atenção Primária à Saúde -a "menina dos olhos" do SUS: sobre as representações sociais dos protagonistas do Sistema Único de SaúdePrimary health care -the "apple of the eye" of SUS: about social representations of the protagonists of the Unified Health System

The study aimed to explore the positive and negative experiences of mothers with exclusive breastfeeding. A descriptive, qualitative study enrolled 18 breastfeeding mothers of infants (≤ 1 year) recruited in the Municipal Immunization Service in Viçosa, Minas Gerais State, Brazil. Data were obtained from taped, transcribed interviews and submitted to content analysis to verify the thematic units related to positive and negative experiences, after which two texts were drafted, one for each situation. These texts were submitted to similarity analysis with the IRAMUTEQ software, generating two similarity trees. Interpretation of the similarity trees used concordance lines produced by the AntConc software. The principal negative breastfeeding experiences were the infant's constant demand for the breast, the impossibility of leaving the infant alone, painful breasts, and insecurity concerning the capacity to produce enough milk. The main positive experiences were the biological benefits of breastmilk, practicality, and lower cost. The study allowed grasping the positive and negative dimensions of exclusive breastfeeding and suggests the importance of professional assistance for the woman in the initial phase of breastfeeding, plus social network support to mitigate the woman's overburdened feeling.

OBJECTIVETo assess the determinants of exclusive breastfeeding abandonment.METHODSLongitudinal study based on a birth cohort in Viçosa, MG, Southeastern Brazil. In 2011/2012, 168 new mothers accessing the public health network were followed. Three interviews, at 30, 60, and 120 days postpartum, with the new mothers were conducted. Exclusive breastfeeding abandonment was analyzed in the first, second, and fourth months after childbirth. The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale was applied to identify depressive symptoms in the first and second meetings, with a score of ≥ 12 considered as the cutoff point. Socioeconomic, demographic, and obstetric variables were investigated, along with emotional conditions and the new mothers’ social network during pregnancy and the postpartum period.RESULTSThe prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding abandonment at 30, 60, and 120 days postpartum was 53.6% (n = 90), 47.6% (n = 80), and 69.6% (n = 117), respectively, and its incidence in the fourth month compared with the first was 48.7%. Depressive symptoms and traumatic delivery were associated with exclusive breastfeeding abandonment in the second month after childbirth. In the fourth month, the following variables were significant: lower maternal education levels, lack of homeownership, returning to work, not receiving guidance on breastfeeding in the postpartum period, mother’s negative reaction to the news of pregnancy, and not receiving assistance from their partners for infant care.CONCLUSIONSPsychosocial and sociodemographic factors were strong predictors of early exclusive breastfeeding abandonment. Therefore, it is necessary to identify and provide early treatment to nursing mothers with depressive symptoms, decreasing the associated morbidity and promoting greater duration of exclusive breastfeeding. Support from health professionals, as well as that received at home and at work, can assist in this process.

Given the scientific evidence indicated in most published studies, it is believed that the lack of breastfeeding can be a modifiable risk factor for both type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Strategies aiming at the promotion and support of breastfeeding should be used by trained healthcare professionals in order to prevent the onset of diabetes.

Este estudo teve como objetivo investigar o conhecimento de puérperas sobre o aleitamento materno. Foram entrevistadas 266 puérperas atendidas em dois hospitais da cidade de Viçosa, MG. A amostra caracterizou-se por mulheres na faixa etária de 13 a 48 anos, das quais 58,3% residiam em Viçosa. A maioria delas tinha o 1º grau incompleto. Segundo a pesquisa, 32,7% das mães receberam informação sobre amamentação antes do parto e 14,3% delas foram orientadas no pré-natal. Apesar de 99,2% das entrevistadas manifestaram a necessidade de a criança ser amamentada, 54,8% não conheciam outra função do leite além da alimentar. A sucção foi lembrada por apenas 1,5% das puérperas como fator que aumenta a produção de leite, e 61,0% delas não conheciam a maneira correta de a criança abocanhar o mamilo. Quanto ao problema do ingurgitamento mamário, 57,0% não sabiam como resolvê-lo. Com relação às leis de proteção à nutriz trabalhadora, 84,6% as desconheciam. Concluiu-se que o baixo nível de conhecimento, por parte das puérperas, sobre questões fundamentais para o sucesso da amamentação reafirmam a importância do incentivo e da orientação para o aleitamento durante o pré-natal.