Profile of nursing mothers and infants attended at the primary health care unit

Abstract

Abstract Objective: To characterize the profile of nursing mothers and infants consulted in primary health care. Methods: This descriptive, cross-sectional quantitative study of 135 nursing mothers used a questionnaire with open and closed questions for data collection. Results: The ages of most mothers were in the range of 20 to 35 years. The majority lived with their partner, had completed high school and did not have formal employment. Most were primipara and had participated in between three to seven prenatal consultations in primary care. Most had full term pregnancies with delivery by C-section. The difficulties presented in breastfeeding leading to the nursing mothers to use infant formulas early were fissures, pain, breast engorgement and mastitis. Conclusion: The study participants were young mothers of childbearing age with a good level of schooling. However, low rates of breastfeeding were evidenced.