Infant feeding practices and the premature introduction of solids
in rural Eastern Cape, South Africa.
Sofia Rubertsson - 2017
ABstract
By focusing on the lived experiences of mothers and caregivers, the study aims to analyze women’s understandings of infant feeding. This as the study aspires to inform and create better practices for infant feeding and breastfeeding support. By using an intersectional approach to examine how different social and cultural norms impact on women’s agency, the study wishes to broaden the debate on how to enable women to breastfeed and decrease the harmful practices of premature introduction of solids.
The empirical data was collected in the O R Tambo region of Eastern Cape, South Africa between December 2016 and February 2017. This was conducted via key informant, group and individual interviews, allowing women to share their experiences of infant feeding. The data was analyzed via thematic coding. Particular attention was payed to how gender relations and hierarchies intersect on women’s choice of feeding practice and premature introduction of solids. By using a feminist research design, this qualitative study holds a social constructivist standpoint. Theoretically, the study is based on the concepts of Pierre Bourdieu´s habitus and doxa together with Nalia Kabeer´s definitions of agency and resources in women’s ability to choose feeding practice.
The findings suggest that low levels of exclusive breastfeeding lead to premature introduction of solids. Driven by economic constraints, mothers are hindered from breastfeeding as they have to go back to work or school shortly after giving birth. The lack of electricity and storage ability leads to formula feeding and the harmful practice of diluting the formula with Nestum® porridge. Mothers lack of agency inhibits them from owning their choice of infant feeding method as social and cultural norms push mothers away from breastfeeding and into diluted formula options. Lack of community support of breastfeeding also contributes to formula feeding and introduction of Nestum® as it is known in the community to “fill the baby up and make it fall asleep.” The study stresses the importance of community support and information. These are key elements for enabling the acceptance of breastfeeding and improving infant feeding knowledge.
The empirical data was collected in the O R Tambo region of Eastern Cape, South Africa between December 2016 and February 2017. This was conducted via key informant, group and individual interviews, allowing women to share their experiences of infant feeding. The data was analyzed via thematic coding. Particular attention was payed to how gender relations and hierarchies intersect on women’s choice of feeding practice and premature introduction of solids. By using a feminist research design, this qualitative study holds a social constructivist standpoint. Theoretically, the study is based on the concepts of Pierre Bourdieu´s habitus and doxa together with Nalia Kabeer´s definitions of agency and resources in women’s ability to choose feeding practice.
The findings suggest that low levels of exclusive breastfeeding lead to premature introduction of solids. Driven by economic constraints, mothers are hindered from breastfeeding as they have to go back to work or school shortly after giving birth. The lack of electricity and storage ability leads to formula feeding and the harmful practice of diluting the formula with Nestum® porridge. Mothers lack of agency inhibits them from owning their choice of infant feeding method as social and cultural norms push mothers away from breastfeeding and into diluted formula options. Lack of community support of breastfeeding also contributes to formula feeding and introduction of Nestum® as it is known in the community to “fill the baby up and make it fall asleep.” The study stresses the importance of community support and information. These are key elements for enabling the acceptance of breastfeeding and improving infant feeding knowledge.
Complete Document
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