OBJECTIVES: to assess knowledge and training of Family Health Program (FHP) teams in encouraging breast feeding (BF) in the Municipality of Francisco Morato, São Paulo. METHODS: a questionnaire with questions on the profile of professionals, awareness of the need to encourage, knowledge on BF management, and training in BF and organization of actions aiming at breast feeding encouragement was applied to 61 professionals of the Family Health Program in the municipality selected through random stratified sampling RESULTS: 45.9% of the respondents mentioned BF as one of the priority actions developed focusing on child health, 98.4% agreed to the value and advantages of BF for both mother and child, 96.7% recommended exclusive breast feeding up to six months of life, 24.6% instructed mothers to continue breast feeding up to two years old; 88.5% instruct on breast feeding position and nursing, 38.9% offer correct instructions for manual milking, 21.4% offer adequate instructions. CONCLUSIONS: respondents are aware of the value of breast feeding and have theoretical knowledge on the subject but have difficulties to resolve practical questions concerning breast feeding management which could have a negative impact on the work developed to support nursing mothers.
Family Health Program; Breast feeding; Interservice training
