Cultural beliefs that may discourage breastfeeding among Lebanese women: a qualitative analysis

Abstract

Background: Although the health benefits of breastfeeding are well established, early introduction of formula remains a common practice. Cultural beliefs and practices can have an important impact on breastfeeding. This paper describes some common beliefs that may discourage breastfeeding in Lebanon.

Determinants of Initiation and Exclusivity of Breastfeeding in Al Hassa, Saudi Arabia

“…30,31 In Saudi Arabia, women may work outside the home in settings where they do not have contact with unrelated men: In girls' schools and the women's sections of universities, social work and development programs for women, banks that cater to female clients, medicine and nursing for women, television and radio programming, and computer and library work. Significant social implications that act as barriers to breastfeeding for employed women in Saudi Arabia and the Gulf countries include embarrassment at breastfeeding before others, even of the same gender, 36 fears of the evil eye 37 (superstitious fears of envy of the lactating woman with inflicting injury or bad luck, including refusal of breastfeeding, cessation of milk flow, or disease for the nursing infant), lack of special facilities such as lactation rooms, inconvenience, and isolation. 38 Furthermore, in Saudi society, breastfeeding in public is considered a taboo, and it is prohibited, 39 with the lack of family support that can overshadow the unquestionable benefits of breastfeeding.…”

“…37,39 Breastfeeding sometimes is rejected for not being modern, especially among those of higher socioeconomic status. 34,36 For breastfeeding interventions to be successful, public perceptions and societal norms that shape the women's decisions to initiate and continue breastfeeding should be explored. 18,20 Our results demonstrate the prevalence and acceptance of several misconceptions regarding breastfeeding.…”

A case study on breastfeeding education in Lebanon’s public medical school: exploring the potential role of social networks in medical education

“…While close friendship ties and resultant trust among trainees are important resources for social capital, misinformation may be exacerbated without the flow of evidence-based information within the network. Indeed, it has been documented that family members in Lebanon, particularly the breastfeeding mother’s mother, may discourage women to breastfeed [38,39] and may spread misconceptions around breastfeeding. For example, these include: women are biologically incapable of breastfeeding because their mothers were not able to successfully breastfeed them; women are not providing sufficient amounts of milk because their infants are crying; abdominal cramps can be transferred from mother to infant through human milk [38,39].…”

“…Indeed, it has been documented that family members in Lebanon, particularly the breastfeeding mother’s mother, may discourage women to breastfeed [38,39] and may spread misconceptions around breastfeeding. For example, these include: women are biologically incapable of breastfeeding because their mothers were not able to successfully breastfeed them; women are not providing sufficient amounts of milk because their infants are crying; abdominal cramps can be transferred from mother to infant through human milk [38,39]. Of note, the significantly lower number of alters that are sought for advice related to providing breastfeeding support compared with medical advice in general is expected as medical advice in general will encompass a broader range of medical conditions.…”

Becoming-(breastfeeding-)woman: women’s body practices and experiences at the intersection of breastfeeding, milk insufficiency, and milk sharing

“…There is precedent for the use of a phenomenological approach, and the employment of related concepts such as subjectivity and embodiment, in feminist accounts of women's experiences of breastfeeding (Bartlett, 2002;Burns, Schmied, Sheehan, & Fenwick, 2010;Grosz, 1994, p. 209;Murphy, 1999;Schmied & Lupton, 2001Shaw, 2004a;Van Esterik, 1994). Health literature, and particularly that emerging from nursing and midwifery, also shows a trend towards ethnographic and phenomenological investigation of breastfeeding through observation and through individuals' articulation of their experiences (Bottorf, 1990;Cole, 2008;Dykes, 2005a;Dykes & Williams, 1999;Lupton, 2000;Osman, El Zein, & Wick, 2009;Quandt, 1995;Ryan et al, 2009;Schmied & Barclay, 1999;Short, 2005;Spencer, 2008). I present a more in-depth discussion of key conceptual frames and ideas in Chapter 3 and throughout the analysis chapters.…”