Related Experiment Videos
Community attitudes to infant feeding
E McIntyre1, J E Hiller, D Turnbull
1Department of General Practice, Flinders University, Bedford Park, South Australia. ellen.mcintyre@flinders.edu.au
Breastfeeding Review : Professional Publication of the Nursing Mothers' Association of Australia
|February 8, 2002
Summary
Many people support bottle-feeding over breastfeeding, especially in public. This study highlights the need for better social support and accessible spaces to make breastfeeding easier and more acceptable.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Sociology
- Maternal and Child Health
Background:
- Breastfeeding is a critical public health concern with significant benefits for both mother and child.
- Societal attitudes and environmental factors significantly influence infant feeding practices.
- Understanding the social context of breastfeeding is essential for developing effective support strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe the social context of infant feeding.
- To examine community experiences with and attitudes toward breastfeeding.
- To identify barriers to breastfeeding in the general community.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional telephone survey was conducted.
- 2500 randomly selected adults participated in the survey.
- Data collected included personal breastfeeding history, infant feeding practices of their youngest child, and observations of infant feeding in their community.
Main Results:
- While 61% of participants were breastfed, only 52% of parents reported mainly breastfeeding their youngest child.
- A majority of participants (58%) observed bottle-feeding more frequently than breastfeeding.
- Over 80% found bottle-feeding more acceptable in public, and 70% noted a lack of public breastfeeding facilities, indicating a non-supportive social environment.
Conclusions:
- The social environment presents significant barriers to breastfeeding, particularly in public settings.
- Bottle-feeding is perceived as more convenient and acceptable, suggesting a need for interventions.
- Enhancing environmental support and public acceptance is crucial to facilitate breastfeeding practices.