OBJECTIVES: to evaluate breast-feeding profile in children under 25 months of age in Northeast Brazil and to determine the association between median breast-feeding length and some of the demographic, maternal, delivery assistance and cultural variables. METHODS: a cross-sectional study and data obtained from the databank of the National Research of Demographics and Health dated 1996 of which 813 children were selected. Frequency and median length of breast-feeding were estimated by life tables. RESULTS: median length of breast-feeding was of 199,8 days. Data collected indicated that during the first month of life 90% of the children were breastfed and at four and six months percentages were respectively 64,7% and 54,4%. Median length of breast-feeding was higher in children from rural areas, older mothers and in children who were not on bottles. CONCLUSIONS: breast-feeding is still far from the World Health Organization recommendations; therefore, encouragement and support to breast-feeding need to be intensified. Factors influencing breast-feeding should be considered in the attempt to increase breast-feeding.
Breast feeding; Weaning
