Abstract
The use of home remedies for the treatment of moderately severe ailments is a common practice in the Polish population. Currently, the topic of the potential non-nutritional properties of human milk is attracting the attention of breastfeeding mothers. This study was aimed at understanding lactating women’s knowledge, attitudes, and practices of non-nutritional breast milk on mucous membranes. The study was conducted among lactating women, who filled out a questionnaire consisting of questions about their knowledge and experiences with non-nutritional use of human milk. Statistical calculations were conducted with chi-square test and c-Pearson coefficient. A total of 1187 women were acted on, whereby 768 of respondents claimed to have knowledge of the non-nutritional use of human milk on mucous membranes, whilst 404 of them claimed that they had used at least one method. Among the most frequently used methods were the treatment of rhinorrhea, lacrimal canaliculi obstruction, and conjunctivitis. A correlation between length of breastfeeding (p < 0.001) and knowledge of non-nutritional human milk usage in prophylaxis and treatment of mucous membrane inflammation was found. Breastfeeding duration (p < 0.001) and parity (p < 0.005) were correlated with the application of those methods in practice. Due to a high propensity to testing those methods, parents’ education in the field of possible risks and importance of medical consultations is necessary.
Highlights
The use of home remedies to treat moderately severe health complaints, including mild infections, is presumed to be a common practice in the Polish population
Tests on animal models (New Zealand rabbits and infant rats) showed that the topical application of oligosaccharides contained in human milk hinders the adhesion of pathogens such as Streptococcus pneumoniae and Haemophilus influenzae to mucous membranes, reducing the risk of infection
The following conclusions were drawn in this study: 1. A high interest in the non-nutritional applications of breast milk was demonstrated among breastfeeding Polish mothers
Summary
The use of home remedies to treat moderately severe health complaints, including mild infections, is presumed to be a common practice in the Polish population. According to data collected by the Polish Center for Public. Opinion Research (CBOS), Poles use the internet for purposes related to health and treatment; among respondents, 50% visit websites concerning health topics, 13% use forums and groups, 69% use the internet to look for information on how to manage their ailments, and 14% set their own treatment on the basis of information found on the internet, without consulting medical professionals [1]. Society presented a special interest in uses of human milk for non-nutritional purposes, including therapy. The first attempts to use breast milk as a home remedy appeared hundreds. Res. Public Health 2019, 16, 1715; doi:10.3390/ijerph16101715 www.mdpi.com/journal/ijerph
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