Introduction: In 1990, Argentina subscribed to the World Summit for Children and established that 60% infants should be exclusively breastfed during the first 4 months. The National Ministry of Health (MCH Program) assumed the responsibility for the development of policies towards breastfeeding (BF) promotion. Objectives: To describe the accomplishment of the 2000 BF goal and analyze trends in BF practices during 1998-2000. Methods: Information on BF was obtained from a national BF survey using a 24-hr recall. The questionnaire was administered to mothers of infants under 1-year during two cross sectional evaluations in 8 provinces in 1998 and 2000. The number of surveyed mothers was 30,736 and 34,110 respectivelly.  Of these, 3,481 and 3,292 had infants of 4 months.

Results:

BF Prevalence at 4 Months of age in Argentina (%)

                                   1998                 2000

Exclusive                    17.1                 28.1

Predominant               9.2                   8.6

Complete                    26.3                 36.7

Partial                         51.4                 43.5

Total                           77.7                 80.1

Weaned                      22.3                 19.9

Argentina has made significant progress in increasing exclusive BF with a decrease in partial BF and proportion of weaned infants.

Comments: Argentina is halfway toward its goal as 28.1% of infants were exclusively BF in 2000. If other indicators such as complete or total BF had been used, the country would have been accomplished 60 or more than 100%. Although many factors contribute to the changes, this process requires time, continuity, and sustainability in order to be translated in progressive changes in the indicators.