Alcohol intake in lactating women assisted in a University Hospital.

Objective: To determine the prevalence of alcohol intake and the degree of alcohol-related risk among nursing mothers attended at the Child Care Service of Hospital das Clínicas of Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Brazil.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out with 157 nursing mothers enrolled in the Child Care Program of the university hospital. A questionnaire was administered addressing demographic and socioeconomic variables, type and duration of breastfeeding, smoking habits and consumption of foods considered as appetizers.