Sociocultural factors influencing breastfeeding practices in two slums in Nairobi, Kenya
Sociocultural factors influencing breastfeeding practices in two slums in Nairobi, Kenya
BACKGROUND: Despite numerous interventions promoting optimal breastfeeding practices in Kenya, pockets of suboptimal breastfeeding practices are documented in Kenya's urban slums. This paper describes cultural and social beliefs and practices that influence breastfeeding in two urban slums in Nairobi, Kenya.
METHODS: Qualitative data were collected in Korogocho and Viwandani slums through 10 focus group discussions and 19 in-depth interviews with pregnant, breastfeeding women and community health volunteers and 11 key-informant interviews with community leaders. Interviews were audiotaped, transcribed verbatim, coded in NVIVO and analyzed thematically.
RESULTS: Social and cultural beliefs and practices that result to suboptimal breastfeeding practices were highlighted including; considering colostrum as 'dirty' or 'curdled milk', a curse 'bad omen' associated with breastfeeding while engaging in extra marital affairs, a fear of the 'evil eye' (malevolent glare which is believed to be a curse associated with witchcraft) when breastfeeding in public and breastfeeding being associated with sagging breasts. Positive social and cultural beliefs were also identified including the association of breast milk with intellectual development and good child health. The beliefs and practices were learnt mainly from spouses, close relatives and peers.
CONCLUSION: Interventions promoting behavior change with regards to breastfeeding should focus on dispelling the beliefs and practices that result to suboptimal breastfeeding practices and to build on the positive ones, while involving spouses and other family members as they are important sources of information on breastfeeding.
TRIAL REGISTRATION: ISRCTN83692672: December 2013 (retrospectively registered).
Journal Article
Wanjohi, Milka
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Griffiths, Paula
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Wekesah, Frederick
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Muriuki, Peter
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Muhia, Nelson
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Musoke, Rachel N
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Fouts, Hillary N.
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Madise, Nyovani J.
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Kimani-Murage, Elizabeth W.
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Wanjohi, Milka
80cca192-0081-49a9-8fbe-7be9abd7ab3c
Griffiths, Paula
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Wekesah, Frederick
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Muriuki, Peter
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Muhia, Nelson
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Musoke, Rachel N
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Fouts, Hillary N.
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Madise, Nyovani J.
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Kimani-Murage, Elizabeth W.
73f3761e-52a4-4356-bca5-8931097b7234
Wanjohi, Milka, Griffiths, Paula, Wekesah, Frederick, Muriuki, Peter, Muhia, Nelson, Musoke, Rachel N, Fouts, Hillary N., Madise, Nyovani J. and Kimani-Murage, Elizabeth W.
(2017)
Sociocultural factors influencing breastfeeding practices in two slums in Nairobi, Kenya.
International Breastfeeding Journal, 12 (5).
(doi:10.1186/s13006-016-0092-7).
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Despite numerous interventions promoting optimal breastfeeding practices in Kenya, pockets of suboptimal breastfeeding practices are documented in Kenya's urban slums. This paper describes cultural and social beliefs and practices that influence breastfeeding in two urban slums in Nairobi, Kenya.
METHODS: Qualitative data were collected in Korogocho and Viwandani slums through 10 focus group discussions and 19 in-depth interviews with pregnant, breastfeeding women and community health volunteers and 11 key-informant interviews with community leaders. Interviews were audiotaped, transcribed verbatim, coded in NVIVO and analyzed thematically.
RESULTS: Social and cultural beliefs and practices that result to suboptimal breastfeeding practices were highlighted including; considering colostrum as 'dirty' or 'curdled milk', a curse 'bad omen' associated with breastfeeding while engaging in extra marital affairs, a fear of the 'evil eye' (malevolent glare which is believed to be a curse associated with witchcraft) when breastfeeding in public and breastfeeding being associated with sagging breasts. Positive social and cultural beliefs were also identified including the association of breast milk with intellectual development and good child health. The beliefs and practices were learnt mainly from spouses, close relatives and peers.
CONCLUSION: Interventions promoting behavior change with regards to breastfeeding should focus on dispelling the beliefs and practices that result to suboptimal breastfeeding practices and to build on the positive ones, while involving spouses and other family members as they are important sources of information on breastfeeding.
TRIAL REGISTRATION: ISRCTN83692672: December 2013 (retrospectively registered).
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Accepted/In Press date: 12 December 2016
e-pub ahead of print date: 11 January 2017
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Journal Article
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Local EPrints ID: 413280
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/413280
ISSN: 1746-4358
PURE UUID: 396aeabe-1bd1-42da-9e7a-d1de609ceb82
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Date deposited: 18 Aug 2017 16:31
Last modified: 15 Mar 2024 13:17
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Contributors
Author:
Milka Wanjohi
Author:
Paula Griffiths
Author:
Frederick Wekesah
Author:
Peter Muriuki
Author:
Nelson Muhia
Author:
Rachel N Musoke
Author:
Hillary N. Fouts
Author:
Nyovani J. Madise
Author:
Elizabeth W. Kimani-Murage
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