ABSTRACT
Purpose:
to investigate the practices of mothers during breastfeeding and infant’s position and their relationship with the infection of the upper airway and otitis media.
Methods:
this is a descriptive exploratory study. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 60 mothers, with questions about breastfeeding, the position of the infant during breastfeeding and the occurrence of infection of the upper airways (IUA) and otitis. In the infants, otoscopy and otoacoustic emissions were performed in both ears.
Results:
out of the 60 infants, 49 were exclusively breastfed and 11 were not. Regarding the position, 20 mothers reported breastfeeding their infants in the seated position and 40 in the lying position. The occurrence of IUA reported by the mothers was in 10 infants and from these, 6 were breastfed lying down and 4 infants sitting. As for the occurrence of otitis media, according to the mothers, 6 infants had at least one episode of otitis. Out of these infants, 2 were breastfed sitting and 4, lying down. The results indicate no significance between the position during breastfeeding and the occurrence of upper airway infection and otitis media.
Conclusion:
the practices of mothers during breast-feeding and infant’s position are not related to infection of the upper airways and otitis media.
Keywords:
Breast Feeding; Otitis Media; Infection; Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences