Sociocultural Factors Affecting Breastfeeding Practices of Mothers During Natural Disasters: A Critical Ethnography in Rural Pakistan

Abstract

Natural disasters affect the health and well-being of mothers with young children. During natural disasters, this population is at risk of discontinuation of their breastfeeding practices. Pakistan is a middle-income country that is susceptible to natural disasters. This study intended to examine sociocultural factors that shape the breastfeeding experiences and practices of internally displaced mothers in Pakistan. This critical ethnographic study was undertaken in disaster-affected villages of Chitral, Pakistan. Data were collected utilizing multiple methods, including in-depth interviews with 18 internally displaced mothers and field observations. Multiple sociocultural factors were identified as either barriers or facilitators to these mothers’ capacities to breastfeed their children. Informal support, formal support, breastfeeding culture, and spiritual practices facilitated displaced mothers to sustain their breastfeeding practices. On the other hand, lack of privacy, cultural beliefs, practices and expectations, covert oppression, and lack of healthcare support served as barriers to the breastfeeding practices of displaced mothers.

Implementing recommended breastfeeding practices in healthcare facilities in India during the COVID-19 pandemic: a scoping review of health system bottlenecks and potential solutions

“…It is inadequately understood as to how populations and health systems respond to public health emergencies given their unique lived experiences, risk perceptions and preparedness ( 61 ). Nevertheless, breastfeeding practices continue to be amenable to socio-cultural influences, at least in resource constrained settings ( 62 – 64 ). The WHO building blocks for health systems does not allow for commentary on inter-dependencies between the blocks and with due consideration of the socio-cultural context; we accept this as a major limitation to our study since we have weaved our findings around these building blocks.…”

Global lessons for strengthening breastfeeding as a key pillar of food security

“…Ethnographic research ( 32 ) focusing on internally displaced people due to prior flooding events in 2015 has identified a number of protective factors as well as barriers to breastfeeding in these challenging circumstances. While breastfeeding was a culturally valued practice that was often supported by family and community networks, there was little formal support for it and there was pressure to introduce tea, other milks and foods early on.…”

“…This interpretation of infant behavior is a common reason globally for introducing CMF ( 33 ), but in the context of high rates of malnutrition and unsafe water, the use of CMF often has devastating outcomes. Participants ( 32 ) identified the lack of health services that support breastfeeding as a key problem – an interviewee started feeding her baby CMF because she felt that her milk was insufficient. This is a common perception during disasters, but one can be resolved through skilled support ( 19 ).…”

Non-Pharmacological Cooking Therapy: An Idea for Recovering the Mental Health of Adolescents as Disaster Victims of Mount Merapi Natural Eruption in Yogyakarta (Indonesia)

“…9 Besides that, cooking therapy give a chance for socialization and fellowship around the table, which can help build resilience in affected communities to the impacts of natural disaster, such as Merapi. 10 Using this intervention in a rehabilitation program-based community can be very useful for individuals with mental illness, who possibly do not have enough ability to express themselves and experience difficulty in interacting and engaging in connection with other people. 11,12 Founded cooking class as a rehabilitation program post-disaster for social cohesion is a new method to get help to recovery-affected adolescents impacted by natural disaster.…”

“…9 Besides that, cooking therapy give a chance for socialization and fellowship around the table, which can help build resilience in affected communities to the impacts of natural disaster, such as Merapi. 10…”