Breastfeeding practices after Kangaroo Mother Method in Rio de Janeiro: the necessity for he alth education and nursing intervention at homea

Abstract

IThe "teaching-leaning" is part of the Brazilian Kangaroo Mother Method with the objective of increasing skills of mother's breastfeeding infants with special health needs. Nevertheless, we do not know if this knowledge was embodied in the family inner circle, so we aimed at identifying and analyzing how this medical knowledge was incorporated in the context of infants' homes. Participatory research was developed at home with eleven groups of mother, family members and neighbors. Local knowledge of neighbors' and family members' replaced the medical knowledge and changed infant feeding practices. Health education should be implemented beyond hospital and include family members.