Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 12, 2026
09:02
Breast Milk Enhances Growth of Enteroids: An Ex Vivo Model of Cell Proliferation
Published on: February 15, 2018
Building Breastfeeding Research Relations and Beyond: An Interview With Fiona Dykes
Tanya M Cassidy1, Fiona Dykes2
1Kathleen Lonsdale Human Health Research Institute, Maynooth University, Ireland.
Summary
Professor Fiona Dykes, an expert in maternal and infant health, has significantly influenced global infant feeding research through her qualitative studies and the establishment of the MAINN unit and conference. Her work explores sociocultural and political factors impacting infant and young child feeding practices.
Area of Science:
- Maternal and Infant Health
- Global Public Health
- Qualitative Research Methods
Background:
- Professor Emerita Fiona Dykes' career at the University of Central Lancashire focused on maternal and infant health.
- She possesses expertise in ethnography and qualitative research, investigating global, sociocultural, and political influences on infant and young child feeding.
- Dykes founded the Maternal and Infant Nutrition and Nurture (MAINN) Unit in 2000 and the associated international MAINN Conference in 2007.
Discussion:
- The MAINN Conference, established by Dykes, is a significant international event fostering global research collaboration in infant and young child feeding.
- Dykes' research interests highlight the complex interplay of societal and political factors affecting infant feeding practices worldwide.
- Her methodological expertise in ethnography provides deep insights into the lived experiences surrounding infant and young child nutrition.
Key Insights:
- Dykes' foundational work in establishing the MAINN Unit and Conference has created vital platforms for advancing infant and young child feeding research.
- Her publications, including 'Breastfeeding in Hospital' and 'Banking on Milk,' offer critical ethnographic perspectives on infant feeding and milk relations.
- Her contributions underscore the importance of understanding diverse global contexts in implementing effective infant feeding strategies.
Outlook:
- Continued exploration of sociocultural and political determinants in infant and young child feeding is crucial for global health initiatives.
- The legacy of Dykes' work supports ongoing international collaboration and research in maternal and infant nutrition.
- Further application of ethnographic methods can yield deeper understanding of breastfeeding and donor milk practices.
More Related Videos
07:11Assessment of the Efficacy of An Osteopathic Treatment in Infants with Biomechanical Impairments to Suckling
Published on: February 5, 2019
05:04A Common Marmoset Model of Mother-Infant Intervention for Breastfeeding Disorders in the Presence of Paternal Inhibition and Maternal Neglect
Published on: September 22, 2023
Related Concept Videos
01:22Imprinting
Behavioral imprinting is observed in some newborn animals and occurs when they develop strong and specific attachments to another animal (usually a parent) following brief, early-life exposures. Offspring imprint onto parents within a brief period after birth or hatching; this time window is called the critical period. Once imprinting occurs, the bond established between the parents and their offspring is usually long-lasting.
00:55Parental Care
Many animals exhibit parental care behavior, including feeding, grooming, and protecting young offspring. Parental care is universal in mammals and birds, which often have young that are born relatively helpless. Several species of insects and fish, as well as some amphibians, also care for their young.
01:28International Nursing Organizations II
The World Health Organization (WHO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations based in Geneva. The WHO has many initiatives that center around health. Primarily, they lead global efforts to expand universal health coverage using science-based policies and programs. They are also responsible for shaping health research agendas and developing norms and standards.
The WHO provides expert team support, including funding, vaccines, testing, and treatment tools at the country level to fight...
The WHO provides expert team support, including funding, vaccines, testing, and treatment tools at the country level to fight...
01:30Theoretical Foundations of Nursing Practice
Theories play an essential role in organizing patient care. Theories refer to a proposed or followed belief, policy, or procedure that is the basis for action. Nursing theories are knowledge-based concepts that guide nurses' actions, influence nursing education and practice, and allow nurses to care for their patients.
Theories provide a perspective to assess patients' conditions and organize data and methods. They also assist in analyzing and interpreting information. They represent a...
Theories provide a perspective to assess patients' conditions and organize data and methods. They also assist in analyzing and interpreting information. They represent a...
01:30Development of Human Microbiota
The human microbiota begins developing at birth and undergoes continual change as we age. Infancy marks a critical period of microbial sensitivity, offering a “window of opportunity” during which beneficial microbes help mature the immune system. By age three, children typically develop a more stable and diverse microbial community. Newborns acquire microbes from their immediate environment; vaginal delivery favors maternal vaginal microbes, while cesarean births favor microbes from the skin...
01:28Development of the Oral Microbiota
The establishment of the oral microbiome begins before birth, challenging the long-held belief that the fetal oral cavity is sterile. The presence of oral microbes such as Streptococcus and Fusobacterium in amniotic fluid suggests that microbial exposure may occur in utero, potentially through translocation from the maternal oral or gastrointestinal tract. This early colonization primes the neonatal immune system and sets the stage for subsequent microbial succession. Maternal health,...