Abstract
The present study evaluated the breastfeeding practice of 278 preterm infants born at the University Hospital of Londrina, Paraná, Brazil, during hospitalization and in the first 6 months of life. Data were obtained from the hospital records, and the mothers were interviewed by home visit (75.5%) or by telephone (24.5%) when the children were 6 months old. Data were analyzed statistically using the Kaplan-Meier survival method and Cox's multivariate regression model. During hospitalization, 100% of the preterm infants received human milk and 31% received exclusive breastfeeding. The median duration of exclusive breastfeeding and breastfeeding was 63.5 and > 180 days, respectively. The prevalence of breastfeeding in the sixth month was 54.7%, and 6.8% of the infants were still exclusively breastfed. Pacifiers were used (currently using or ever used) by 127 (45.7%) preterm infants and were associated with a 1.67 times higher risk of interruption of exclusive breastfeeding. J Hum Lact. 23(3):269-274.
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