Drawing Method and Infant Feeding Practices Among Refugee Women

Joseph, June; Liamputtong, Pranee; Brodribb, Wendy

doi:10.1007/978-981-10-2779-6_44-1

Cited by 5 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 24 publications

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“…Myanmarese mothers, on the contrary, modeled ideal health, nurturing and breast milk production to the analogy of a strong tree that provides shelter through its abundant leaves (Joseph et al, 2019). Childbirth rendered their bodies “soft,” “new,” and “delicate like a baby again” (Htet, Myanmar, Karenni) because their blood was brand new following childbirth.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Methodologically, findings in this article utilized the postmodern inquiry to permit the emergence of multiple identities within the confines of gender, race, religion, and class (Liamputtong, 2013). We used in-depth interviewing in conjunction with drawing methods as a triangulation so that refugee perspectives, that are sometimes difficult to communicate verbally, would not be missed by a single mode of data collection (Joseph, Liamputtong, & Brodribb, 2019; Liamputtong & Benza, 2019; Liamputtong & Suwankhong, 2015). This promotes credibility and dependability of data (Morse, 2015a).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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From Liminality to Vitality: Infant Feeding Beliefs Among Refugee Mothers From Vietnam and Myanmar

2019

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Infant feeding in traditional (non-White societies) is imbued within beliefs surrounding the human body and food. This article, framed within the liminality theory, demonstrates perspectives of 38 Vietnamese and Myanmarese refugee mothers. Situated within the postmodern methodological framework, innovative methods of in-depth interviewing and drawing were used to gather participant’s subjectivities. As birthing renders the new mother and infant weak, the findings mirror a “liminality to vitality” nurturing continuum, acknowledging the (a) essentialism of bodily breast milk, (b) rituals that strengthen mothers for lactation, (c) lactation-inducing food, and (d) culturally symbolic non-milk food that promote an independence for nourishment other than from the maternal body. Health care professionals are called to value the importance of bodily vitality in birthing and clinical maternal–child health/nutrition spheres so that culturally specific services and consultations are rendered. Our findings also offer a platform to developing models of care for families from Vietnamese and four ethnic Myanmarese communities.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

From Liminality to Vitality: Infant Feeding Beliefs Among Refugee Mothers From Vietnam and Myanmar

2019

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“…She also attended a drawing methodology workshop that was conducted by Marilys Guillemin (a pioneer in this methodology) prior to data collection. Being among the first to successfully incorporate this methodology with refugee women, we published a book chapter on how we engaged with these women for the exercises (Joseph, Liamputtong, & Brodribb, 2019a).…”

Section: Validity and Reliability/vigourmentioning

confidence: 99%

Postpartum breastfeeding experiences in the traditional‐biomedical crossroads: A qualitative study using drawing with Vietnamese and Myanmarese refugee women in Australia

Joseph

Liamputtong

Brodribb

2019

Journal of Advanced Nursing

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Aims To explore how postpartum support networks, hospital stay and healthcare services had an impact on breastfeeding experiences of refugee women from Vietnam and Myanmar in Brisbane, Australia. Design A qualitative study guided by feminist methodological inquiry. Methods Semi‐structured interviews and drawing exercises were conducted with recent (<10 years) and established (≥10 years) refugee women between July 2015 ‐ June 2016. Verbal data were analysed thematically, whereas drawings were analysed with the critical visual analytical framework. Results The findings reflect how 36 mothers negotiated their breastfeeding experiences in the “traditional‐biomedical” intersection (major theme) in face of changing support networks, social structures, hospital policies and postpartum services postresettlement (sub‐themes). Tensions of cultural unfamiliarity in the western setting generally contributed to early breastfeeding cessation among recent arrivals, whereas social (extended families, tertiary education) and cultural (English literacy) capitals and a longer stay in Australia enabled established arrivals to integrate the traditional and western biomedical beliefs. Conclusion The ability of established arrivals to integrate both traditional and western worldviews may assist in addressing breastfeeding uncertainties that affect recent arrivals. Perspectives of midwives from the western postnatal spheres merit future exploration. Impact Positive early breastfeeding experiences lead to its long‐term success. By identifying the impact that conflicting beliefs have on breastfeeding experiences of refugees in the western biomedical environment, this study suggests how interventions that focus on reinforcing maternal cultural and social capital could benefit community empowerment, healthcare and policy sectors nationally and globally.

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“…While several studies both in Australia and globally have accessed the motherhood and infant feeding experiences of women from migrant and refugee backgrounds, the incorporation of drawing as a method of inquiry in my study contributes to a new and holistic understanding of the aspects of nurturing for these mothers. As I have argued in previous work (Joseph et al, 2017), the use of innovative drawing methodologies such as accessing the artistic expression of mothers, unlocked the hidden and unknown aspects of refugee feeding experiences that have been generally obscured by shame, secrecy and silence (Ussher et al, 2017). This aspect of experiences that were bravely exemplified with colours was also a means of empowerment, healing and liberation.…”

Section: Discussion Of Resultsmentioning

confidence: 95%

“…Ideal motherhood from the Myanmarese perspective; reproduced from(Joseph, Liamputtong & Brodribb, 2017) …”

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confidence: 99%

Feeding an infant in a foreign land: the experiences of refugee mothers from Vietnam and Myanmar

Joseph¹

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BackgroundPersecution and conflicts in countries like Vietnam and Myanmar force many to flee their countries to those with more resources, such as Australia, in search of a better life. However, maternal integration into the new society is often compounded by the task of nurturing her infant while she navigates unfamiliar and contrasting socio-cultural norms, ideologies and expectations. While global data show that child malnutrition due to sub-optimal feeding practices are high in lower income countries, there is no recent data that showcase the infant feeding experiences of refugee mothers from Vietnam and Myanmar in Australia or globally. Thus, an understanding of the beliefs, practices and experiences related to infant feeding decisions in their new homeland would help healthcare and policy sectors focus attention on aspects of maternal infant feeding negotiations that require attention. Research objectivesThis research was designed to understand infant feeding beliefs, practices and experiences, and the cultural meanings of maternal and infant health in Vietnamese and Myanmarese refugee women in Australia. The objectives were to 1) define the post-birth rituals and its connection with infant feeding; 2) understand the cultural definition and maternal management of optimal infant health in changing contexts; 3) explore infant feeding experiences in relation to societal norms, networks and social structures pre-and post-resettlement; and 4) examine the embodied experiences of nurturing in traditional and modernistic contexts. MethodologyThis study employed qualitative research methods to explore the infant feeding experiences of Vietnamese and Myanmarese mothers who have resettled in Brisbane, Australia.Phenomenological-, feminism-, and postmodern-informed methodological frameworks were used to guide data collection through in-depth interviewing and drawing methods. Most mothers had one follow-up interview and were given the freedom to express their voices through artwork at their preferred phase of the interview. Data surrounding infant feeding beliefs, practices, experiences and negotiations in social spheres were gathered. Verbal and visual data were analysed thematically and ii using the critical visual analytical framework respectively and later juxtaposed with the interview themes. There were thirty-eight participants; 16 from Vietnam and 22 from Myanmar. Half of the Vietnamese mothers were recent arrivals (< 10 years), while the remainder arrived in Australia as children or teenagers (> 20 years). Participants from Myanmar were all recent arrivals (< 10 years), and from four ethnic groups (Karen, Karenni, Chin and Kachin). Results and discussionsThe findings and discussion of this study were situated within four theories: Liminality; Maternalinfant Embodiment and Inter-embodiment; Motherhood Risk and Responsibility; and Bourdieu's Theory of Practice. Four main themes were derived from the data: Infant feeding beliefs; Maternal ways of knowing infant health and growth; Negotiations of infant feeding beli...

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Drawing Method and Infant Feeding Practices Among Refugee Women

Cited by 5 publications

References 24 publications

From Liminality to Vitality: Infant Feeding Beliefs Among Refugee Mothers From Vietnam and Myanmar

From Liminality to Vitality: Infant Feeding Beliefs Among Refugee Mothers From Vietnam and Myanmar

Postpartum breastfeeding experiences in the traditional‐biomedical crossroads: A qualitative study using drawing with Vietnamese and Myanmarese refugee women in Australia

Feeding an infant in a foreign land: the experiences of refugee mothers from Vietnam and Myanmar

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