Objectives:
to identify factors associated with maternal breastfeeding in different regions of the country.
Methods:
the data form part of the Brazilian 2002-2003 Family Budget Study. The sample comprised 2958 children aged between 0 and 1 year, representative of the national population. And linear regression model with a binomial family and logarithmic connection was created for each region, with a confidence interval of 90%.
Results:
an increase in the number of people living in a household is the principal negative factor for breastfeeding in all regions of Brazil. In this sample, negative factors were found to be: mothers of advanced age, having four or more people living in the household, higher income, higher level of education of the mother and the use of a crèche. Positive factors were having two or more children at home under the age of five years and being black or of mixed race.
Conclusions:
the regions that had the highest number of negative factors associated with maternal breastfeeding were the Southeast and the South, with a large number of household members being the worst situation for encouraging breastfeeding in all regions of Brazil.
Breast feeding; Epidemiologic factors; Geographic mapping