OBJECTIVES: to assess compliance to Brazilian legislation regarding breast-feeding in medium and large hospitals in the municipality of Maceió in 2000. METHODS: descriptive study selecting large and medium sized, public and private hospitals in Maceió employing at least 30 women over 16 years old. The following variables were established: number of employees, availability of breast-feeding facilities and of cribs in each of the hospitals. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews based on current legislation, and visitation of locations where children being nursed were kept. RESULTS: a) 17 hospitals grant the 120 days maternity leave and the two 30 minutes break for breast-feeding purposes according to legislation; b) 10 do not have any facilities for the babies or their employees (mothers); c) as for day care centers none follow the basic rules established by law. CONCLUSIONS: hospitals are following only part of the law and there is no interest in the part of authorities in charge of enforcing the laws assuring breast-feeding.
Breast feeding; Legislation; Brazil
