ALEITAMENTO MATERNO: SABERES E PRÁTICAS DAS LÍDERES DA PASTORAL DA CRIANÇA

Abstract

Breast milk is proven to be the best baby food. However, during the history of mankind the act of breastfeeding has undergone several cultural influences, now being valued as an ideal food, now being devalued as a primitive act without importance for the development of the baby. In Brazil, breastfeeding has been rescued and encouraged for more than 10 years through campaigns carried out by the Ministry of Health and non-governmental entities. Among these entities is the Pastoral care of the child, which has been working for more than 30 years with the encouragement of breastfeeding, especially in poorer communities where lack of information has led many children to morbidity and mortality. The objective of this study was to understand the knowledge and practices of the community leaders of the Pastoral care of the child of the municipality of Palmeira-PR, related to children's health with emphasis on breastfeeding. This research is characterized as descriptive, qualitative, using documentary research, participant observation and open interview. The material analyzed reinforces the scientific knowledge and the biological function of breastfeeding, homogenizing the actions and decontextualizing local and community action. However, despite this equalization of knowledge offered by Pastoral care of the child, we could understand that the success of the work in the promotion of breastfeeding is not only linked to 'scientific knowledge', but also to the identification of mothers / women / Community leaders, reinforcing the importance of counseling in a humanized way, welcoming and accepting the personal, emotional and cultural issues that permeate the breastfeeding process.