Objective:

To identify the causes for which women abandon exclusive breastfeeding before their babies reach six months of age, and to identify the factors associated with breastfeeding discontinuation.

Methodology:

Observational study with a Case-Control analysis, at the Clínica Universitaria Bolivariana, in Medellín, between October 2018 and February 2020. Parent-child binomials were included, with infants between 0 and 6 months. They were divided into two groups: Adherent mothers who fed their children with breast milk exclusively (controls) and not adherent mothers who fed their children with infant formula exclusively or in a "mixed" way, that is, with breast milk and formula (cases). Descriptive and analytical methods were applied for the analysis of information.

Results:

270 women were included, 32.5% (88/270) of the non-adherent group and 67.4% (182/270) of the adherent group. The main factors related to the lack of adherence to LM were to have had some reason to stop breastfeeding such as difficulties with the technique, with position or lack of grip, feeling of low production, and that the baby was born with low weight or had low weight at some point during his first six months, with OR 32,186 (IC95% 13,352-77,591) and not having received adequate prenatal education about breastfeeding.

Conclusion:

Support and maternal education in both prenatal and postpartum control by trained personnel, favor adherence to exclusive breastfeeding. The other factors analyzed, such as mother or child diseases, feeling of low milk production, maternal work, among others, did not show a significant difference to define as a risk factor for not giving exclusive breastfeeding.

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