OBJECTIVES: to describe the breastfeeding orientation provided to pregnant women, and to compare its frequency during prenatal care in the PSF (Family Health Program) with the traditional health care model. METHODS: As part of the PROESF/UFPEL (2005) evaluation survey, this study investigated women who had delivered two years before the interview, living in the catchment area of 93 primary healthcare units (UBS) in 17 cities with more than 100,000 inhabitants, in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Interviews were carried out with 568 women who received prenatal care in their UBS, between March and May 2005, by qualified interviewers, through standardized questionnaires. Analysis was performed using t-test for comparison of means, and the Chi-square test for proportions, considering a 5% significance level. Prevalence ratios were calculated, with 95% confidence intervals. RESULTS: Breastfeeding orientations were more frequent in areas with PSF model. About 18% of the mothers have not received any guidance, 39% received it at least once, and 43% received all the investigated orientations, and proportions were significantly different according to the type of UBS, with higher rates in the PSF. CONCLUSIONS: the PSF model was more effective in providing breastfeeding orientation. This advantage should be promoted, either as an expansion of the strategy, increasing coverage, or encouraging traditional UBS workers to provide breastfeeding orientation in prenatal care.
Breastfeeding; Prenatal care; Primary health care; Family health program; Child health
