Breast feeding practices of mothers with children (aged 0-36 months) in a rural area of South Africa A qualitative approach

2010 ◽  
Vol 29 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
R Kruger ◽  
G Gericke
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Rural Area ◽  
Breast Feeding ◽  
Feeding Practices ◽  
Qualitative Approach

scholarly journals Maternal perspectives on infant feeding practices in Soweto, South Africa

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-13
Author(s):  
Stephanie V Wrottesley ◽  
Alessandra Prioreschi ◽  
Wiedaad Slemming ◽  
Emmanuel Cohen ◽  
Cindy-Lee Dennis ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Infant Feeding ◽  
Breast Feeding ◽  
Feeding Practices ◽  
African Women ◽  
Infant Feeding Practices ◽  
Eating Behaviours ◽  
Group Discussions ◽  
Exclusive Breast Feeding ◽  
South African Women

Abstract Objective: To (i) describe the infant feeding practices of South African women living in Soweto and (ii) understand from the mothers’ perspective what influences feeding practices. Design: Semi-structured focus group discussions (FGD) and in-depth interviews (IDI) were conducted, and data were analysed using thematic analysis. Setting: Soweto, South Africa. Participants: Nineteen mothers were stratified into three FGD according to their baby’s age as follows: 0–6-month-olds, 7–14-month-olds and 15–24-month-olds. Four mothers from each FGD then attended an IDI. Results: Although mothers understood that breast-feeding was beneficial, they reported short durations of exclusive breast-feeding. The diversity and quality of weaning foods were low, and ‘junk’ food items were commonly given. Infants were fed using bottles or spoons and feeding commonly occurred separately to family meal times. Feeding practices were influenced by mothers’ beliefs that what babies eat is important for their health and that an unwillingness to eat is a sign of ill health. As such, mothers often force-fed their babies. In addition, mothers believed that feeding solid food to babies before 6 months of age was necessary. Family matriarchs were highly influential to mothers’ feeding practices; however, their advice often contradicted that of health professionals. Conclusions: In South Africa, interventions aimed at establishing healthier appetites and eating behaviours in early life should focus on: (i) fostering maternal self-efficacy around exclusive breast-feeding; (ii) challenging mixed feeding practices and encouraging more responsive feeding approaches and (iii) engaging family members to promote supportive household and community structures around infant feeding.

scholarly journals A comparison of breast feeding practices among urban and rural areas of Rangareddy district of Telangana

2017 ◽  
Vol 4 (6) ◽  
pp. 2136 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Vijay Kumar ◽  
Indranil Acharya ◽  
Jayanti P. Acharya ◽  
Puligila Raj Shravani ◽  
Sabbineni Ramya
Keyword(s):  
Rural Area ◽  
Breast Feeding ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Feeding Practices ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Rural And Urban Areas ◽  
Young Infants ◽  
Urban And Rural Areas

Background: Breastfeeding is the normal way of providing young infants with the nutrients they need for healthy growth and development. Methods: A community based cross sectional study was conducted among 800 mothers from urban and rural areas of Rangareddy District. A pre designed pre tested questionnaire was used to interview the mothers. Questionnaire contained questions related to demographic factors and breast feeding practices. Institutional Ethical clearance was taken. Results: The overall prevalence of exclusive breast feeding was 65%, being comparatively more in rural area (68%) which was statistically significant. Colostrum was discarded by 15% mothers in urban and 9% in rural area. Breast feeding was initiated within 1 hour in 184 (46%) in urban area and in 148 (37%) in rural area. Conclusions: Though mothers from rural area had certain favorable breast feeding practices such as demand feeding, colostrum being given but still various inappropriate practices were prevalent in both rural and urban areas. 

scholarly journals Comparison of knowledge and practice regarding colostrum feeding among mothers in rural and urban area

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (6) ◽  
pp. 2347
Author(s):  
Sirivella Tejaswini ◽  
Bhavani Bangarkodi Blakrishna
Keyword(s):  
Urban Area ◽  
Rural Area ◽  
Breast Feeding ◽  
Survey Design ◽  
Feeding Practices ◽  
Study Data ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Colostrum Feeding ◽  
Knowledge And Practice ◽  
Rural And Urban Area

Background: Basic food of infant is mother’s milk. Breast feeding should be initiated within the first half an hour of birth. The first milk is the most suitable feed for the newborn. Colostrum is very important for growth, development and protection from infections in infants. The importance of colostrum is still not known to many mothers and caregivers. This study aimed to compare the knowledge and practice regarding colostrum feeding among mothers in urban and rural area.Methods: A descriptive approach and comparative survey design was adopted for the study. Data was collected from 150 mothers (75 each from urban and rural area) having infants of birth to 6 months age. Data was collected using a performa with items on socio-demographic varibles, a structured questionnaire to assess knowledge and a practice questionnaire regarding colostrum feeding.Results: 46.7% urban and 48% rural had moderate level of knowledge and 22.7% mothers from rural had poor knowledge. The urban mothers were more aware about colostrum feeding and its importance than rural mothers. Majority of the mothers (92% urban, 89.3% rural) practiced colostrum feeding. Comparison of knowledge and practice showed statistically significant difference between mothers of urban and rural area.Conclusions: Knowledge regarding colostrum feeding was inadequate and improper breast feeding practices were found in both urban and rural area. Urban area mothers had more knowledge and better feeding practices compared to mothers of rural area. There is an ongoing need for individual and community awareness programmes regarding importance of colostrum feeding.

scholarly journals Tube Feeding Practices and Transition to Breastfeeding Experiences of Mothers of Preterm Infants at a Kangaroo Mother Care Unit of a Tertiary Hospital in South Africa

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
pp. 2333794X2110370
Author(s):  
Sphiwe Madiba ◽  
Malmsey Sengane
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Breast Milk ◽  
Preterm Infants ◽  
Neonatal Intensive Care ◽  
Tube Feeding ◽  
Feeding Practices ◽  
Tertiary Hospital ◽  
Very Preterm Infants ◽  
Mothers Of Preterm Infants ◽  
Group Interviews

To receive human milk, most preterm infants initially receive the mothers’ expressed milk through a nasogastric tube. However, breast milk feeding the preterm infant and making the transition to direct breast-feeding come with significant challenges. The study explored and described the experiences of mothers of preterm infants regarding initiation and expressing breast milk, tube feeding practices, and transition to breastfeeding during the infants’ stay in a kangaroo care unit (KMC) of an academic hospital in South Africa. Using a qualitative design, focus group interviews were conducted with 38 mothers of preterm infants after discharge from the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). We analyzed transcripts following the 5 steps for qualitative thematic data analysis. Tube feeding and breastfeeding preterm infants was challenging and exhausting for the mothers. Many described their experiences of initiating expression and sustaining milk supply as negative. They had constant concerns about their ability to produce adequate milk volumes to feed their infants. They had immense dislike of expressing, which they described as physically exhausting, stressful, and painful. Those who had initiated breastfeeding were highly motivated to breastfeed their preterm infants. They described breastfeeding as a positive bonding experience that they derived pleasure from. The mothers’ dislike of expressing was overshadowed by their emotional obligation toward their preterm infants. Although the KMC unit promotes breastfeeding, mothers encountered problems and struggled to initiate expression and sustain milk production. Mothers of extreme and very preterm infants need support to continue with milk expression during the long NICU and KMC stay.

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