Martina van den Berg
Practices, advice and support regarding prolonged breastfeeding: a descriptive study from Sri Lanka
van den Berg, Martina; Ball, Helen L.
Abstract
Practice and duration of breastfeeding were examined in relation to traditional practices and modern recommendations on infant care in Sri Lanka. Semi-structured interviews were conducted among 60 Sri Lankan mothers whose youngest child was 0.5-4 years. The results show that all mothers had breastfed their infants. Most respondents introduced additional foods at 4 months, as recommended by local public health services. The median age at cessation of breastfeeding was 2.9 years, in line with public health advice. Doctors were reported to oppose breastfeeding during a subsequent pregnancy. Eighty-two percent of mothers practised habitual bed-sharing with their children. Nighttime breastfeeding frequency was 4.8 times per night for infants aged 0.5-1 year and declined gradually over the next 3 years. Maternal working status did not influence the overall duration of breastfeeding. Sri Lankan mothers and infants were confronted with several factors opposing their breastfeeding relationship, notably near full-time work and the early introduction of additional foods. Even though exclusive breastfeeding was ended prematurely, the majority of mothers and infants managed to sustain a prolonged breastfeeding relationship. Mother-child bed-sharing and associated nighttime breastfeeding is proposed as an important factor supporting continued breastfeeding.
Citation
van den Berg, M., & Ball, H. L. (2008). Practices, advice and support regarding prolonged breastfeeding: a descriptive study from Sri Lanka. Journal of Reproductive and Infant Psychology, 26(3), 229-243. https://doi.org/10.1080/02646830701691376
Journal Article Type | Article |
---|---|
Publication Date | Aug 1, 2008 |
Deposit Date | Sep 23, 2008 |
Publicly Available Date | Mar 8, 2010 |
Journal | Journal of Reproductive and Infant Psychology |
Print ISSN | 0264-6838 |
Electronic ISSN | 1469-672X |
Publisher | Taylor and Francis Group |
Peer Reviewed | Peer Reviewed |
Volume | 26 |
Issue | 3 |
Pages | 229-243 |
DOI | https://doi.org/10.1080/02646830701691376 |
Keywords | Breastfeeding, Cross-cultural studies, Interviews, Social. |
Public URL | https://durham-repository.worktribe.com/output/1562604 |
Publisher URL | http://www.informaworld.com.ezphost.dur.ac.uk/smpp/content~content=a794823003~db=all~order=page |
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Copyright Statement
This is an electronic version of an article published in van den Berg, M. and Ball, H. L. (2008) 'Practices, advice and support regarding prolonged breastfeeding : a descriptive study from Sri Lanka.', Journal of reproductive and infant psychology., 26 (3). pp. 229-243. Journal of reproductive and infant psychology is available online at: http://www.informaworld.com/smpp/content~db=all?content=10.1080/02646830701691376
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