OBJECTIVE: to analyze the development of Brazilian breastfeeding from 1974-1975 to 1999. METHOD: three population-based surveys carried out in 1974-1975, 1989, and 1999 were compared. Although they had different objectives, sampling plans, and data collection methods, the definition of breastfeeding was the same. The results of the first two surveys were taken from the original articles. For the 1999 survey, a new analysis was performed in order to allow direct comparison of results. The probit model was used to estimate prevalence in all three studies. The development of breastfeeding was examined through charts and index numbers. RESULTS: the increase in the frequency of breastfeeding, in the period of 25 years between the first and third studies, started at 40% in the group of children at one month of age, to 150% at the fourth month of age, to 200% at the sixth month of age, and to 240% at the 12th month of age. CONCLUSION: the increasing trend in the prevalence of breastfeeding verified in Brazil in 1974-1975 to 1989 continued in the 1990's.
Breastfeeding; Trends; Brazil
