Addressing social barriers and closing the gender knowledge gap: exposure to road shows is associated with more knowledge and more positive beliefs, attitudes and social norms regarding exclusive breastfeeding in rural Zimbabwe

Abstract Background For optimal growth and development, the World Health Organization recommends that children be exclusively breastfed for the first 6 months of life. However, according to the nationally-representative 2013–2014 Demographic and Health Survey, under 50% of babies in the Democratic Republic of Congo are exclusively breastfed. Although breastfeeding was common in the capital city of Kinshasa, one in five newborns received alternatives to breastmilk during the first 3 days of life. This analysis aimed to identify social norms influencing exclusive breastfeeding, the role of a young first-time mother’s (FTM’s) social network for her choice to exclusively breastfeed, and perceived social sanctions associated with breastfeeding practices in Kinshasa. Methods The qualitative analysis was based on a vignette presented during 14 focus group discussions, with a purposively selected sample (n = 162) of FTMs age 15–24, and the male partners, mothers and mothers-in-law of FTMs age 15–24 in three health zones in Kinshasa in 2017. Thematic content analysis was performed to identify concepts and patterns in the participants’ discussions. Results Overall, community norms were not supportive of exclusive breastfeeding. The main barriers to exclusive breastfeeding were the belief held by most FTMs that exclusive breastfeeding was an uncommon practice; the desire to avoid negative sanctions such as name-calling and mockery for refusal to give babies water in the first 6 months of life; the desire to please key members of their social networks, specifically their mothers and friends, by doing what these influencers expected or preferred them to do; FTMs’ own lack of experience with infant feeding; and trust placed in their mothers and friends. Conclusion Social norms can be maintained by the belief about what others do, perceived expectations about what individuals ought to do, the negative sanctions they can face and their preference to conform to social expectations. Thus, addressing cultural beliefs and targeting sensitization efforts to key influencers that provide support to FTMs are needed to promote exclusive breastfeeding in Kinshasa. In doing so, strategies should address the barriers to exclusive breastfeeding including related misconceptions, and improve FTMs’ self-efficacy to overcome the influence of others.

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Demography, Knowledge-Gap Effect and Exclusive Breastfeeding Campaign in Lagos and Ogun States, Nigeria

Global Journal of Health Science ◽

10.5539/gjhs.v9n12p176 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 9 (12) ◽

pp. 176

Author(s):

Kolade Ajilore ◽

Helen Ambassador-Brikins ◽

Kevin Onyenankeya

Keyword(s):

Exclusive Breastfeeding ◽

Communication Theory ◽

Economic Status ◽

Economic Benefits ◽

Gap Effect ◽

Knowledge Gap ◽

Chi Square ◽

Socio Economic Status ◽

Sexual Appeal ◽

Socio Economic Variables

Resistance to six-months exclusive breastfeeding remains pervasive among mothers in spite of the numerous health and economic benefits of breastfeeding. Experts attribute the nonchalance towards exclusive breastfeeding to several factors, including myths and traditional beliefs as well as fear that breastfeeding weakens the breast fibre and consequently, quickens the sagging of the breast and the woman’s sexual appeal. In Nigeria, government and non-governmental agencies continue to promote exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life. The purpose of this paper was to investigate the influence of socio-economic variables on the awareness, knowledge and adoption of the six months exclusive breastfeeding campaign in two Nigerian states.A mixed methods design was employed. First, a series of in-depth interviews was conducted with six health care workers in Lagos and Ogun States. Thereafter, 1500 copies of a questionnaire containing16 items were administered to a purposively drawn sample of lactating mothers whose babies fell within the age range of 0 and 12 months.The results showed a high awareness level of the six-months exclusive breastfeeding campaign. Chi Square test suggests that the socio economic status of women does not significantly influence their awareness of the six months exclusive breastfeeding (p>0.060). Similarly, respondents’ educational levels showed no significant influence on their knowledge of six months exclusive breastfeeding (p > 0.070).Contrary to the thesis of the knowledge gap communication theory, awareness does not depend on socio economic status. In all, demographics of women in Lagos and Ogun states do not influence their awareness, knowledge and adoption of six months exclusive breastfeeding.

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Promoting six-month exclusive breastfeeding: an examination of social norms messaging and outcome expectations

Journal of Applied Communication Research ◽

10.1080/00909882.2021.2018019 ◽

2022 ◽

pp. 1-18

Author(s):

Jie Zhuang

Keyword(s):

Social Norms ◽

Exclusive Breastfeeding ◽

Outcome Expectations

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Addressing the gender-knowledge gap in glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency: challenges and opportunities

International Health ◽

10.1093/inthealth/ihy060 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

pp. 7-14 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

Gonzalo J Domingo ◽

Nicole Advani ◽

Ari W Satyagraha ◽

Carol H Sibley ◽

Elizabeth Rowley ◽

...

Keyword(s):

G6pd Deficiency ◽

G6pd Activity ◽

Knowledge Gap ◽

Genetic Trait ◽

Serious Adverse Events ◽

Severe Deficiency ◽

Challenges And Opportunities ◽

Plasmodium Vivax Malaria ◽

Glucose 6 Phosphate Dehydrogenase ◽

Gender Knowledge

Abstract Glucose-6-phosphate dehyrdgoenase (G6PD) deficiency is a common X-linked genetic trait, with an associated enzyme phenotype, whereby males are either G6PD deficient or normal, but females exhibit a broader range of G6PD deficiencies, ranging from severe deficiency to normal. Heterozygous females typically have intermediate G6PD activity. G6PD deficiency has implications for the safe treatment for Plasmodium vivax malaria. Individuals with this deficiency are at greater risk of serious adverse events following treatment with the only curative class of anti-malarials, 8-aminoquinolines, such as primaquine. Quantitative diagnostic tests for G6PD deficiency are complex and require sophisticated laboratories. The commonly used qualitative tests, do not discriminate intermediate G6PD activities. This has resulted in poor understanding of the epidemiology of G6PD activity in females and its corresponding treatment ramifications. New simple-to-use quantitative tests, and a momentum to eliminate malaria, create an opportunity to address this knowledge gap. While this will require additional resources for clinical studies, adequate operational research, and appropriate pharmacovigilance, the health benefits from this investment go beyond the immediate intervention for which the G6PD status is first diagnosed.

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Cooperation and obligation in early parent-child relationships

Behavioral and Brain Sciences ◽

10.1017/s0140525x19002474 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 43 ◽

Author(s):

Ross A. Thompson

Keyword(s):

Social Norms ◽

Moral Psychology ◽

Close Relationships ◽

Social Agency ◽

Infant Survival ◽

Peer Experiences ◽

Early Experiences ◽

Early Parent ◽

Collaborative Skills ◽

Parent Child Relationships

Abstract Tomasello's moral psychology of obligation would be developmentally deepened by greater attention to early experiences of cooperation and shared social agency between parents and infants, evolved to promote infant survival. They provide a foundation for developing understanding of the mutual obligations of close relationships that contribute (alongside peer experiences) to growing collaborative skills, fairness expectations, and fidelity to social norms.

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The Structure Among Measures of Personality, Social Attitudes, Values, and Social Norms

Journal of Individual Differences ◽

10.1027/1614-0001.28.4.240 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 28 (4) ◽

pp. 240-251 ◽

Cited By ~ 28

Author(s):

Lazar Stankov

Keyword(s):

Factor Analysis ◽

Individual Differences ◽

Social Norms ◽

Social Interactions ◽

Correlation Matrix ◽

Social Attitudes ◽

Group Differences ◽

Factor Scores ◽

Ethnic Group Differences ◽

Inside Out

Abstract. This paper presents the results of a study that employed measures of personality, social attitudes, values, and social norms that have been the focus of recent research in individual differences. These measures were given to a sample of participants (N = 1,255) who were enrolled at 25 US colleges and universities. Factor analysis of the correlation matrix produced four factors. Three of these factors corresponded to the domains of Personality/Amoral Social Attitudes, Values, and Social Norms; one factor, Conservatism, cut across the domains. Cognitive ability showed negative correlation with conservatism and amoral social attitudes. The study also examined gender and ethnic group differences on factor scores. The overall interpretation of the findings is consistent with the inside-out view of human social interactions.

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Accentuating Your Masculine Side

Social Psychology ◽

10.1027/1864-9335/a000144 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 44 (2) ◽

pp. 103-108 ◽

Cited By ~ 16

Author(s):

Chongzeng Bi ◽

Oscar Ybarra ◽

Yufang Zhao

Keyword(s):

Social Norms ◽

Gender Role ◽

Cultural Context ◽

Self Esteem ◽

Western Countries ◽

Self Evaluation ◽

Two Samples ◽

Agency And Communion

Recent research investigating self-judgment has shown that people are more likely to base their evaluations of self on agency-related traits than communion-related traits. In the present research, we tested the hypothesis that agency-related traits dominate self-evaluation by expanding the purview of the fundamental dimensions to consider characteristics typically studied in the gender-role literature, but that nevertheless should be related to agency and communion. Further, we carried out these tests on two samples from China, a cultural context that, relative to many Western countries, emphasizes the interpersonal or communion dimension. Despite the differences in traits used and cultural samples studied, the findings generally supported the agency dominates self-esteem perspective, albeit with some additional findings in Study 2. The findings are discussed with regard to the influence of social norms and the types of inferences people are able to draw about themselves given such norms.

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