Trends in Breastfeeding at Hospital Discharge in Uruguay (2012–2023): Evidence for Public Policies
Abstract
Introduction: Exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) at hospital discharge is a public health indicator and predicts its continuation. In Uruguay, the Perinatal Information System (SIP, by its Spanish acronym) enables national monitoring.
Objective: To analyze trends in EBF, partial breastfeeding, and artificial feeding at hospital discharge between 2012 and 2023, overall and by maternal age.
Materials and methods: Retrospective descriptive study using aggregated, anonymized SIP data. The 2012–2017 and 2018–2023 subperiods were compared. Overall and maternal age-stratified proportions and absolute and relative changes were estimated. Records with missing feeding information remained in the denominator. Differences were assessed using the chi-square test (p<0.05).
Results: A total of 474,630 live births were recorded; feeding at discharge was not documented in 10.1%. EBF decreased from 75.9% to 69.0% (−6.9 percentage points; −9.1%; p<0.001), with the sharpest decline between 2017 and 2019. Partial breastfeeding increased from 12.4% to 20.8%, and artificial feeding from 0.88% to 1.06% (p<0.001). The largest EBF decline occurred among mothers aged ≥45 years (−11.1 points; −18.2%), followed by those aged 20–24 years (−8.9 points; −11.7%) and 15–19 years (−8.4 points; −11.4%). Women aged 25–34 years maintained the highest proportions.
Conclusions: EBF at hospital discharge decreased significantly between the two subperiods, accompanied by an increase in partial breastfeeding and differences by maternal age. The largest declines in EBF occurred among mothers younger than 25 years and those aged ≥45 years.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Marcos Delfino, Natalia Hermida
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