Incidence and correlates of breast-feeding practices in the non-European Community migrant women

Length of time in Ghana is associated with the likelihood of exclusive breastfeeding among Liberian refugees living in Buduburam

While literature describing immigrant's breastfeeding practices exists, especially among those living within developed countries, there is a significant gap in knowledge on how the host culture may influence the EBF behaviors of refugees, especially those living in protracted situations within sub-Saharan Africa. A cross-sectional study was conducted in the Buduburam Refugee Settlement in Ghana from July-August 2008 to explore the association between the amount of time living in Ghana and exclusive breastfeeding practices among Liberian refugees and Ghanaians in surround villages. The study included 480 women: 239 Liberians living in 12 settlement zones (in two of which Liberians and Ghanaians co-exist), 121 Ghanaians living in two settlement zones, and 120 Ghanaians living in nearby urban village of Awutu. Liberian mothers who lived in Ghana at least eight years were significantly more likely to exclusively breastfeed (OR: 1.78, 95% CI: 1.02, 3.09) compared to Ghanaian mothers living in Awutu. These findings suggest that increased time living in Buduburam improved the chances of EBF success among Liberians, perhaps as a result of unique EBF education/support opportunities offered in the settlement to Liberian refugees that were not readily available to Ghanaians. Further research to understand the "mechanisms" explaining exclusive breastfeeding differences as a function of time spent in host country is needed for improving breastfeeding support in refugee settlements and host communities.

Breastfeeding beliefs and practices of African women living in Brisbane and Perth, Australia

The purpose of this study was to explore the experience of breastfeeding among refugee women from Liberia, Sierra Leone, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of Congo living in two major capital cities in Australia. Participants were recruited from their relevant community associations and via a snowballing technique. Thirty-one women took part in either individual interviews or facilitated group discussions to explore their experiences of breastfeeding in their home country and in Australia. Thematic analysis revealed four main themes: cultural breastfeeding beliefs and practices; stigma and shame around breastfeeding in public; ambivalence towards breastfeeding and breastfeeding support. Women who originated from these four African countries highlighted a significant desire for breastfeeding and an understanding that it was the best method for feeding their infants. Their breastfeeding practices in Australia were a combination of practices maintained from their countries of origin and those adopted according to Australian cultural norms. They exemplified the complexity of breastfeeding behaviour and the relationship between infant feeding with economic status and the perceived social norms of the host country. The results illustrate the need for policy makers and health professionals to take into consideration the environmental, social and cultural contexts of the women who are purportedly targeted for the promotion of breastfeeding.

Impact of anxiety in the puerperium on breast-feeding outcomes: role of parity

OBJECTIVE

: Studies in animals indicate that stress and anxiety can depress lactation, but there is much less information available concerning humans. We aimed to determine whether maternal anxiety in puerperium, potentially exacerbated by the primiparity inexperience, has a negative impact on breast-feeding outcomes.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

: The state-trait anxiety inventory Y form (Spielberger, 1983) was administered to a total of 204 mothers, 101 primiparae, and 103 pluriparae on the third to fourth day postpartum.

RESULTS

: We found that primiparae had state anxiety (T) scores significantly higher than pluriparae (44.57 +/- 5.85 vs 43.28 +/- 7.10, P = 0.03). Increased state anxiety levels impaired breast-feeding success. In addition, in the logistic regression analysis model used to assess factors predictive of breast-feeding longer than 3 months, maternal state anxiety was the most significant risk factor (odds ratio 0.99; 0.88-0.98, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

: In the puerperium, anxiety, potentially exacerbated by primiparae inexperience, is associated with impaired lactation. Alleviating maternal anxiety could be beneficial for stimulating breast-feeding in more vulnerable women.