Abstract

DIEHL, Julia Polgati  and  ANTON, Márcia Camaratta. Emotional factors associated with exclusive breastfeeding and its early interruption: a qualitative study. Aletheia [online]. 2011, n.34, pp. 47-60. ISSN 1413-0394.

The present study investigated the factors that influence the occurrence of exclusive breastfeeding and its early interruption, and the emotional aspects involved in these processes. Participants in the study were three first-time mothers of 18 month-old babies, who exclusively breastfed their babies for different periods of time. The participants answered a semi-strutucted interview about breastfeeding. Qualitative data analysis demonstrated that life history, biological and emotional conditions of mother and baby, the value participants gave to exclusive breastfeeding, as well as the support provided by the hospital team, pediatricians, partners and grandmothers influenced the maintenance or interruption of exclusive breastfeeding. These findings can contribute to the development of more efficient public health guidelines to promote breastfeeding, and to the discussion of the role of psychologists in this context.

Keywords : Breastfeeding; Weaning; Emotional states.