Social support networks for Breastfeeding: an action-research

ABSTRACT Social networks can be regarded as webs of relationships established between people, and their consequences, in individual and collective behaviors. Studies on support networks contribute to unravel the understanding of social interactions, the formation of bonds, exchanges and reciprocities, which circulate the symbolic goods and materials essential to the constitution of social bonds, capable of strengthen everyday practices. The objective of this article was to analyze the social support networks for Breastfeeding stimulation and to develop actions to strengthen them. This is an action research developed in four phases: exploratory, planning, action and evaluation. Data were collected by interviews, field diary and focal group. They were analyzed by thematic content analysis technique. The results, interpreted from sociological contributions of the theory of social networks and the theory of gift, revealed that the nuclear family has a very strong relationship with the nursing mothers, highlighting the partner and the mother as the most influential members in the network social of these. The educational actions performed were constituted of three types of activities, that were complemented: the home visits, the conversations wheels and the interaction of a virtual group. The conclusions affirm the importance of the support network for the practice of Breastfeeding, involving relationships of positive reciprocities, generating feelings of recognition, solidarity and satisfaction.