Abstract
BackgroundExclusive breastfeeding is significantly associated with strong infant immunity and optimal development. The importance of breastfeeding is underestimated. Parental lack of knowledge and unhealthy practices regarding breastfeeding deprive infants of their basic right to mother’s milk. In developing countries, including Pakistan, with high child mortality and malnutrition, healthy breastfeeding practices can bring positive changes in child health status. From this perspective, the present study aims to understand parents’ knowledge, attitudes and practical encounters with breastfeeding practices and the factors that prevent them from adopting such practices.MethodsA qualitative study was carried out in both rural and urban settings in Rajanpur District of Punjab Province, Pakistan. We conducted 12 focus-group discussions (FGDs) that involved 38 mothers and 40 fathers with children aged under two years who were being breastfed. A thematic content analysis of data collected through FGDs was performed manually. The themes were both inductive and deductive in nature.ResultsThe study found that a majority of participants believed that the first thing given to an infant after birth should not be breast milk but honey, rose flower, or goat’s milk from the hands of an elder in the family or a religious person. No cleanliness measures were practised in this regard. The participants had misconceptions about the benefits of colostrum, which frequently prevented it being given to newborns. Participants reported many factors, such as: insufficient milk syndrome (slow growth of infants due to insufficient daily breast milk intake), a mother’s high workload, lack of social support, the influence of culturally designated advisors, and the promotion and marketing strategies of infant formula companies, that undermined exclusive breastfeeding efforts and encouraged mothers to switch to infant formula.ConclusionsCulturally acceptable and integrated public health interventions are needed to improve the breastfeeding-related health literacy and practices of parents, grandparents and communities. This will ultimately reduce the high infant mortality and malnutrition rates in Pakistan.
Highlights
Data were collected through 12 focus-group discussions (FGDs) with mothers and fathers of children aged under two years in both rural and urban settings in Rajanpur District of Punjab Province, Pakistan
Infant’s first given feed The data analysis revealed that most of the participating mothers and fathers practised feeding a child with ghurati. This refers to the first food in the form of sweet things given to the newborn from the hands of some elderly and pious person in the family immediately after birth. This is done with the understanding that the child will grow up with the qualities of the person who gave the first food
The present study found that insufficient milk syndrome was another factor undermining exclusive breastfeeding and encouraging the use of infant formula
Summary
Exclusive breastfeeding is significantly associated with strong infant immunity and optimal development. In developing countries, including Pakistan, with high child mortality and malnutrition, healthy breastfeeding practices can bring positive changes in child health status. From this perspective, the present study aims to understand parents’ knowledge, attitudes and practical encounters with breastfeeding practices and the factors that prevent them from adopting such practices. It is associated with elevated emotional attachment of the mother to the infant [6], reduced risk of breast and endometrial cancer [7] and increased duration of postpartum amenorrhea and consequent birth spacing [8], as well as several other health benefits such as lower risk of osteoporosis [9]
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