This article aims at examining the association between the introduction of artificial milk and socioeconomic and demographic factors in a representative sample of 1,057 mothers of children under six months users of 27 health care units in the city of Rio de Janeiro in the year 2007. Information about mother's characteristics and children's feeding practices were obtained through interviews with mothers after a pediatric appointment. Multivariate logistic regression models adjusted by children's age, with weighing and design effect were used to estimate association between mother's characteristics and introduction of artificial milk. Results indicated that introduction of artificial milk was negatively associated with having formal employment (OR= 0.40; CI 95% 0.24 - 0.67) and not having a paid job (OR= 0.40; CI 95% 0.29 - 0.57) and was positively associated with low maternal schooling (OR= 1.29 CI 95% 1.01 - 1.63) and not having had a previous breastfeeding experience (OR= 1.61 CI 95% 1.28 a 2.04). Negative interaction was observed between marital status and mother's age. Adolescence was positively associated with introduction of artificial milk among mothers with partners (OR=2.06 CI 95% 1.32 - 3.21) and negatively associated among mothers without partners (OR=0.24, CI 95% 0.10 - 0.58). Public health professionals should be trained to promote exclusive breastfeeding during the first six months of life with particular attention to mother's characteristics.
Breast feeding; Bottle feeding; Infant nutrition; Child health; Risk Factors
