Associação entre tipo de chupeta e comportamentos de sucção e amamentação em bebês a termo: um estudo transversal comparativo

Abstract

This cross-sectional study aimed to compare sucking and breastfeeding behaviors in full-term babies by observing breastfeeding according to the type of pacifier used. Assessed 351 children treated at a human milk bank (HMB) at a university hospital in northeastern Brazil. The mothers were interviewed about the use of artificial nipple and breastfeeding was evaluated using the B-R-E-A-S-Tfeeding Observation Form recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF). The following items where observated: position, response, affectivity, anatomy and suction. Children were divided into three groups according to pacifier use: 292 without pacifier use, 42 using conventional pacifiers and 17 using orthodontic pacifiers. Statistical analysis included Chi-square or Fisher's exact tests for categorical variables, and one-way ANOVA and Tukey post-hoc tests for continuous variables adopting a significance level of 5%. As result, the group of babies using orthodontic pacifiers obtained higher scores for favorable breastfeeding behaviors and lower scores for unfavorable, agreeing with the hypothesis that orthodontic pacifiers generate less negative impact on breastfeeding compared to conventional ones. The findings suggest that children who use pacifiers have more problems with grip, position, affectivity and sucking when compared to the group that opts for exclusive breastfeeding (EB) and reinforce the importance of guidance for families about the impact of the use of artificial nipples on the breastfeeding pattern.