Quantitative Methodologies Reveal a Diversity of Nutrition, Infection/Illness, and Psychosocial Stressors During Pregnancy and Lactation in Rural Mam-Mayan Mother–Infant Dyads From the Western Highlands of Guatemala

Background:

The nature and severity of 3 categories of maternal stressors (nutritional, infectious, and psychosocial) that may impact maternal health and early infant growth are not often considered together.

Objectives:

To describe quantitative methodologies; assess construct validity of questionnaires; report variability in sociodemographic, obstetric, nutritional, infectious, and psychosocial characteristics; and compare characteristics between pregnancy and lactation and between study cohorts of Mam-Mayan mother–infant dyads.

Methods:

Grounded in participatory action research and a socioecological framework, this observational study enrolled a longitudinal cohort of 155 women, followed during pregnancy (6-9 months), early (0-6 weeks), and later (4-6 months) postpartum, and 2 cross-sectional cohorts (60 early and 56 later postpartum). Household and social factors; obstetric history; nutritional, infectious, and psychosocial stressors; and infant characteristics were explored.

Results:

Diet diversity (3.4 ± 1.3) and adult food security (38%) were low. Urinary and gastrointestinal infections were rare (<5%), whereas experience of local idioms of distress was frequent (20%-50%). Participants reported low maternal autonomy (81%), high paternal support (70%), small social support networks (2.7 ± 1.3 individuals), and high trust in family (88%) and community-based institutions (61%-65%) but low trust in government services (6%). Domestic violence was commonly reported (22%). Infant stunting was common (36% early postpartum and 43% later postpartum) despite frequent antenatal care visits (7.5 ± 3.8). Participant engagement with the research team did not influence study outcomes based on comparisons between longitudinal and cross-sectional cohorts.

Conclusions:

The variability in sociodemographic, nutritional, and psychosocial variables, will allow exploration of factors that promote resilience or increase vulnerability of the mother–infant dyad.

Cultural determinants of optimal breastfeeding practices among indigenous Mam-Mayan women in the Western Highlands of Guatemala

BACKGROUND

Among indigenous Mam-Mayan women, breastfeeding practices may be intertwined with cultural influences during the early postpartum period.

OBJECTIVES

Our study explored whether beliefs regarding transmission of emotions through breast milk, the feeding of agüitas or temascal (traditional sauna) use were associated with achievement of the World Health Organization infant feeding recommendations and if these cultural practices served as moderators of the relationship between optimal breastfeeding practices and infant anthropometry.

METHODS

We recruited 190 mother-infant dyads at infant age < 46 days. Data on breastfeeding and cultural practices were collected via questionnaire. Infant length, weight, and head circumference were measured and z scores were calculated. Multiple linear and logistic regression analyses were used to examine determinants of initiation of breastfeeding within 1 hour, breastfeeding frequency, breastfeeding exclusivity, and infant weight-for-age z score (WAZ).

RESULTS

Mothers who delivered at the traditional midwife's house (odds ratio [OR] = 2.5) and those who did not believe in the transmission of susto (fright) through breast milk (OR = 2.4) were more likely to initiate breastfeeding within 1 hour postpartum. Higher breastfeeding frequency was observed among mothers who spent more time in the temascal. Initiating early breastfeeding within 1 hour postpartum was the sole infant feeding practice positively associated with exclusive breastfeeding and WAZ.

CONCLUSIONS

Our investigation in the Western Highlands of Guatemala has highlighted the link between cultural practices and beliefs during lactation, breastfeeding practices and infant growth. Public health practitioners need to understand how local cultural practices influence early initiation of breastfeeding to promote adequate infant weight.