Socio-demographic profile and breastfeeding promotion of nursing professionals of the Family Health Strategy

Theoretical framework: The performance of primary care nursing professionals contributes to improving breastfeeding rates. Objectives: To describe the personal and professional characteristics of primary care nursing professionals and identify their perceptions regarding their own ability to manage and guide the practice of breastfeeding. Methodology: Observational, cross-sectional and descriptive study, conducted between March and July, 2010, with a sample of 85 primary care nursing professionals of the municipality of Uberaba, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Two self-administered questionnaires validated in Brazil were used, as well as a univariate data analysis. Results: Most primary care nursing professionals were young and female. Most of them had breastfed their children, participated in breastfeeding courses and considered themselves able to provide guidance and clinically manage breastfeeding during the prenatal period, educational group activities, children consultations and home visits. They were on average two and a half years in the teams. Conclusion: The success of breastfeeding women during breastfeeding depends on a support network that includes trained and more aware healthcare professionals.