Fatores que podem influenciar o desmame precoce

Abstract

Introduction: Early weaning is still a worrisome factor, making it important to investigate and intervene in the reality of pregnant and postpartum women as early as possible in order to avoid mortalities and morbidities, and in this sense, it is up to the health professional, such as nurses, to promote, support, and encourage the practice of exclusive breastfeeding. Objective: To identify the reasons that lead mothers to early weaning; identify the age range of mothers who choose early weaning; and survey the guidelines provided by nurses to avoid early weaning. Method: This is a descriptive and exploratory literature review, characterized as qualitative, whose search for articles was conducted from March to November 2021, in the LILACS, SCIELO, and CAPES databases. Results and discussion: A total of 809 articles were identified, 16 of which met the inclusion criteria, 8 in the LILACS database, 6 in SCIELO, and two in the CAPES Periodicals Portal. Of the 16 articles selected, 14 (87.5%) addressed the reasons that lead mothers to early weaning, such as the use of pacifiers and bottles, maternal labor, alcohol consumption, introduction of tea, water or other milks, myths and customs, cesarean delivery route, lack of professional guidance in prenatal care, low income, maternal age, and biological problems. Regarding the age range of mothers who opt for early weaning, four articles (25%) showed that mothers had a mean age between 20 and 30 years. As for the orientations given by nurses to avoid early weaning, only three articles described strategies related to the importance of breastfeeding practice, benefits, correct grip, stimulation of milk production, and milking. Conclusion: The study identified the reasons that lead to early weaning and that such practice can cause several problems in children's health, increasing the risk of infections in early childhood, deserving special attention from the nursing professional who is directly linked to maternal and child care and has a key role in the management of exclusive breastfeeding.