Agentes comunitários de saúde e o aleitamento materno: desafios relacionados ao conhecimento e à prática

• Autor(a) principal: Moimaz, Suzely Adas Saliba
• Data de Publicação: 2017
• Outros Autores: Serrano, Mírian Navarro, Garbin, Cléa Adas Saliba, Vanzo, Ketlin Lara Tosta, Saliba, Orlando
• Tipo de documento: Artigo
• Idioma: por
• Título da fonte: Repositório Institucional da UNESP
• Texto Completo: http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/1982-0216201719213216; http://hdl.handle.net/11449/157763
• topic: Community Health Works; Breastfeeding; Knowledge; Agentes Comunitários de Saúde; Aleitamento Materno; Conhecimento

ABSTRACTPurpose: to identify the knowledge of community health workers on practices and promotion of breastfeeding.Methods: this is a cross-sectional descriptive study aimed to investigate a sample of 148 health workers quantitatively and qualitatively. Data collection was performed by applying a semi-structured questionnaire with open and closed questions. The following variables were analysed: sociodemographic data, capacity to provide breastfeeding guidance, participation in training and courses, and knowledge of the breastfeeding benefits for mother and baby. Statistical analysis was performed with chi-square test, exact Fisher’s test and G-test at significance level of 5%. Open questions were analysed according to the qualitative research technique.Results: approximately, 45.95% of the health workers were not trained to provide nursing mothers with practical guidance on breastfeeding, and 63.30% never attended courses on breastfeeding. The majority of health workers mentioned breastfeeding benefits only for the baby, namely: nutrition, immunology, development, health, dentition, and bones. There was a statistically significant association between the capacity to provide breastfeeding guidance and participation in training (p<0.001).Conclusion: the health workers had not participated in training courses to follow up nursing mothers, in addition to having a limited knowledge on practices and promotion of breastfeeding and paying late post-natal home visits.