[The effect of breast feeding and its duration on the health of the infant (December 1992-February 1993)].

A study was carried out from a sample of 300 infants born at "Mariana Grajales" Obstetric and Gynecological Teaching hospital, Santa Clara, from December, 1992 to February, 1993. Some factors which influence upon breast feeding were studied. A survey including personal identity data and others was applied. Factors aforementioned were analyzed and it was found that breast feeding was maintained during the first 4 months of life in 58.0% of infants. In addition, acute diarrheal and acute respiratory diseases were found to be more frequent in those infants breast fed during a shorter period of time. A significant relationship between maternal occupation and lactation was also confirmed. No relationship was observed between nutritional status and lactation, although the greatest percentage is found in infants with normal body weight with 38.0% of breast-fed infants and 25.3% of non-breast fed infants.