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The European Journal of Public Health Advance Access originally published online on February 9, 2006
The European Journal of Public Health 2006 16(2):143-148; doi:10.1093/eurpub/cki170
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© The Author 2006. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Public Health Association. All rights reserved.

Maternal and Child Health

Breastfeeding beliefs and practices among migrant mothers in slums of Diyarbakir, Turkey, 2001

P. Ergenekon-Ozelci1, N. Elmaci2, M. Ertem2 and G. Saka2

1 General Directorate of Maternal and Child Health and Family Planning, Ministry of Health, Ankara, Turkey
2 Department of Public Health Medical Faculty of Dicle University, Diyarbakir, Turkey

Correspondence: Meliksah Ertem, Dicle Universitesi Tip Fakultesi, Halk Sagligi Anabilim Dali, 21280, Diyarbakir, Turkey, tel/fax: +90 412 2488432, e-mail: mertem{at}dicle.edu.tr

Background: A qualitative investigation and a population survey were conducted to explore the breastfeeding beliefs and practices of mothers who were forced to migrate from their original villages and were currently living in the slums of Diyarbakir in Turkey. Methods: Qualitative data collection on breastfeeding beliefs was conducted using in-depth interviews. In-depth interviews were tape-recorded. Quantitative data on breastfeeding practices were collected using a structured questionnaire. Results: Mothers generally have a positive attitude towards breastfeeding, but colostrum is usually perceived negatively. No woman was found to feed her infant exclusively by breastfeeding. Only 9.9% of mothers initiated breastfeeding within the first hour of birth. Forty per cent of mothers started solid foods before 4 months. Mother's education appeared as a significant factor influencing the introduction of colostrum to the newborn. Mothers with lower education generally believed that the colostrum should not be fed to the infant and that a pregnant woman's milk is unhealthy for the baby. There was also a belief that ‘working under the sun’ decreased the quality of milk of a mother. Conclusion: Cultural beliefs have a significant influence on breastfeeding practices. Some of these practices are potentially harmful to newborns. Health education programmes should address these beliefs and practices in culture sensitive ways.

Keywords: beliefs and attitudes, breastfeeding, qualitative data


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