MAIN SOCIAL, ECONOMIC, PSYCHOLOGICAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL DETERMINANTS THAT FAVOR EARLY WEANING: A LITERATURE REVIEW

Abstract

Breast milk is the ideal source of nutrition and protection for newborns. Based on short- and long-term benefits for mother and child, the World Health Organization (WHO) and leading societies recommend exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months of life, followed by continued breastfeeding with the introduction of complementary solids for up to two years or more. Despite all efforts and scientific evidence proving the superiority of breastfeeding over other forms of feeding young children, this is not a reality in Brazil and worldwide. This study aims to analyze the determining factors that favor early weaning in order to find ways to maintain exclusive breastfeeding until 6 months of age and thus assist in the goal established by the WHO, which aims to reach the mark of 50% of infants exclusively breastfed by the year 2025. The study adopted a literature review approach, using bibliographic research in the PubMed, Scielo, and UpToDate databases. The search was conducted using the descriptors “breastfeeding,” “infant nutrition,” “lactation,” and “breast milk,” covering the last 5 years. The articles were evaluated through a two-stage screening process: initially, titles and abstracts were analyzed to identify the most relevant ones, and then the full articles were evaluated for compliance with the inclusion criteria. The initial search resulted in 1,012 articles, of which 7 were selected. The studies highlight that the lack of specialized follow-up in the first months after delivery can lead to breastfeeding difficulties, such as pain, cracked nipples, and latching difficulties, which can cause maternal discouragement and, consequently, early cessation of breastfeeding. In addition, the presence of a robust support system can alleviate these challenges and encourage continued breastfeeding. In the socioeconomic context, mothers who face financial difficulties or lack of resources and need to return to work early may be more prone to early weaning.