Breastfeeding as the Key to Improving Public Health - Literature review Example

Breastfeeding and hypothesis literature review Name Instructor Date of submission Introduction According to Henderson &Redshaw (2011) breastfeeding is a mode of feeding that provides infants with nutrients that they require for a healthy development and growth. Ibanez, et al., (2012) breastfeeding is recommended exclusively for a period of six months. This means that no food other than mother’s milk should be introduced to the infant until six months are over. Gage, et al., (2012) the decision that new mother make regarding the way forward on either to breast feeding or not, has a great implication to the health of the baby. Unfortunately, according to the same author, in most cases mothers with sufficient income levels, high education status and able to access information on breastfeeding from written materials as well as health professionals breastfeed for long time exclusively, with complimentary feeds being introduced later in life. Henerson et al., (2011) add that, early cessation on exclusive breastfeeding was as a result of midwifery, clinical and sociodemographic factors. In this study, mothers stopping breastfeeding within 3 months were found to fall prey of intra-partum and socio-demographic factors. Regardless of the mother’s age midwives however, did offer information that encouraged and supported breastfeeding needs. This literature review evaluates that women of higher social class and over 30 years of age tend to breastfeed more than women of low social class and under 30 years old. Literature review MacGregor & Hughes , (2010) an effort of promoting breastfeeding as the optimal feeding method for the infants has continuously failed especially among the disadvantaged mothers. A review of nine articles was conducted and through a qualitative research method, a research was conducted on the breastfeeding experience of the mothers in the disadvantaged groups. From the study, mothers do understand the importance of breastfeeding but, the barriers that they experience hinder them from achieving the goals in breastfeeding. MacGregor &Hughes, (2010) the mother’s decision to breastfeed is mostly affected by the social support they have and their previous knowledge on breastfeeding. In addition, MacGregor & Hughes, (2010) Mothers in the disadvantaged groups require more support and extra input so that they can overcome challenges and barriers related to breastfeeding. Hence, the health care providers need to establish support systems to teach and educate the mothers from the low social classes the importance of breastfeeding and how to overcome the challenges they face. Entwistle , Kendall & Mead , (2010) breastfeeding is the key to improving public health and reducing the gap in health inequality. Nonetheless, women within a low income bracket continuously record low rates of breastfeeding. Entwistle , Kendall & Mead (2010) there have been an increased number of midwives to try improving the levels and teaching mothers more about the WHO requirements on breastfeeding. Despite that, Entwistle, Kendall &Mead (2010) no evaluation and monitoring of the impacts of the actions of the midwives has been done. Entwistle , Kendall & Mead (2010) this research was conducted to get the views of the women in low income of how the programs are helping them or how efficient, Through the analysis the programs it was found that four themes relate to the breastfeeding behaviors namely, the social environment a mother lives in, a mother’s self-confidence, the influence of maternal services offered and breastfeeding knowledge they have. Entwistle , Kendall & Mead , (2010) from the results, the health officers are required to consider psychological factors when supporting breastfeeding. Dyson, et al., (2010) pregnant teenagers are all below 30 years making them among the group that has low rates of breastfeeding. Various factors influence breastfeeding decisions among teenagers especially the psychosocial factors. To help understand this fact, the authors applied a mixed study method using qualitative questionnaires among pregnant teenagers. The study found that, teenage mothers feel that it is embarrassing to breastfeed. Factors like the moral norms, self-esteem and the sexuality of the breast affect the teenagers mothers. Dyson, et al., (2010) for such mothers it is morally wrong to breastfeed and they felt low when breastfeeding especially felt embarrassed if they are to do it in public places. This makes the teenagers have a negative attitude towards breastfeeding resulting to lack of initiating feeding to infants or stopping feeding when it is too early. Grassley, (2010) adds that teenagers require a lot of support during the pregnant period so as to positively impact on their decisions. An esteem support and social support is required for the adolescent mothers. The nurses play a greater role during the postpartum period as they offer support to the teenagers hence promoting long term health conditions. Grassley, (2010) there are five dimensions on the support that they are offered emotional, instrumental, esteem or appraisal support, and information support. Grassley, (2010) concluded that, if these forms of supports are integrated in the system they will help give a positive effect on the adolescent mothers and help increase the breastfeeding rates in future. Brown, Raynor &Lee (2011) did a research among mothers aged 17-24 so as to identify the implications of them deciding to breastfeed. From the study, those who breastfeed for up to 6 months associated it with the support they received, they considered breastfeeding as easy and the fact that the community in which they lived just viewed breastfeeding as normal and others who surrounded them encouraged them to breastfeed. Brown ,Raynor &Lee (2011) the people around them did let them realize that breastfeeding is the normal way of feeding and they should not be embarrassed doing it. Brown, Raynor & Lee (2011) concluded that, increased level of breastfeeding is important for the health of the infant and the mother. Increased breastfeeding levels are a great measure in reducing future possibility of health problems among the infants. Henderson , et al., (2011) it is quite important to point out the role that men play in enabling the women to breastfeed may either encourage or discourage breastfeeding among young mothers. To understand this, Henderson , et al., (2011) did a research on men below and above 30 years of age. Men as fathers and husbands are required to give support to pregnant and breastfeeding mothers. Henderson, et al., (2011) most men view breastfeeding as a natural way of feeding but, problematic and hence, viewed formula feeding as safe and consistent. From the study, the men viewed breastfeeding as excessive exposure and attached it to sexuality especially those who did not have direct connection to people breastfeeding. Men as partners are needed to give an all-round support to women during the breastfeeding stage. Financial support was found being one of key areas that men should focus on. This would help women not have to work a lot to meet their needs but, rather stay at home and have more time to breastfeed. Uzun , et al., (2013) on comparison of the adult and young mothers it was identified that most mothers who are young come from families that live below the poverty line while those from the high social class above the poverty line were adult mothers. The social class affects their decision on breastfeeding. Uzun , et al., (2013) the adolescent mothers experience problems in accessing health care facilities for themselves and the infants. They also felt they are inadequate to provide enough care for the infants. The levels of initiating and continuation of breastfeeding among young mothers was 40 percent while those for the adult mother were 62 percent. The study concluded that, Proper care for the young mothers in their postnatal and prenatal periods would help increase these levels. Dodds, (2013) differences in breastfeeding are across geographical social economic and age groups, just like from the previous surveys are factors that bring about the differences. The study reported that reasons for early cessation or introduction of other foods before 6 months were as a result of babies who were always hungry and no enough milk to feed them and aching nipples and breast by the first time mothers. Dodds, (2013) however adds that, there is inadequate familiarity with the act of breastfeeding in the society with inaccurate and inadequate information. As a result mothers’ prefer using formula milk in public Bernie, (2013) on a contrasting view, research has shown that young mothers feed less and they do not have enough support, making the older mothers be the ones feeding more and having enough support from their families. Bernie, (2013) but these old mothers are the mothers to these teenagers making them the grandmothers of the infants. They have a lot of experience and they have the knowledge on the significance of breastfeeding yet their children do not have enough support and information on how to breastfeed. Bernie, (2013) the grandmothers should play their role which could be very helpful as they offer important advice and firsthand information to their teenagers who are their children. Older women have a lot of influences on the women decision to feed and since over 90 percent of women have mothers it is expected that this role they play would have a positive impact. Hunter & Magill-Cuerden (2014) despite the challenges young mothers encounter in making decision to breastfeed, a number of young mothers are seen to embrace the act of breastfeeding as the pregnancy continues to mature. Hunter & Magill-Cuerden (2014) young mothers in UK find it easier and able to breastfeed in public. There exist a conflict and distress among the mothers as young mothers turning to adult mothers want the community to perceive them as they are doing the correct thing. Hunter & Magill-Cuerden, (2014) they want to be judge positively and welcomed in the society by their families and communities. There is a paradox between not being able and being able to be viewed as a good mother who creates problem and tension between the young mothers and the families. Whitford , (2015) carried a study on whether financial incentive would help increase breastfeeding rates in the areas that experience low levels of breastfeeding. From the survey it was viewed as important to have such incentives. On contrast Robb, (2015), it was viewed that as much as financial support helps increase the breastfeeding levels it can act as an incentive to continue other socio factors behavior among smoking mothers. Robb, (2015) according to this study, mothers may prefer to continue with the habit so that they can receive more financial assistant. However Hoddinott, Morgan &Thomson (2014), financial assistant should not be ruled out in encouraging and supporting breastfeeding rather it should be used to help reduce health inequalities in future. Moreover Cabieses,et al., (2014), other factors such as ethnicity too affects the level of breast feeding and it should be addressed. In conclusion, research continuously show differences in the rate of breastfeeding among women in the lower social class and below 30 years of age and those in the higher social classes and of above 30 years of age. Many factors as discussed above have contributed to the results. Although, various support programs are in place to help the disadvantaged women and the teenage mother so as to improve the level of breastfeeding. Other socio-behaviors such as smoking among breastfeeding mothers may discourage support especially monetary from various sponsors. Nevertheless, the main focus should be on these social groups so as to improve the infant and maternal health and reduce the health inequality experienced in UK. References Bernie, K. 2013. The factors influencing young mothers' infant feeding decisions: the views of healthcare professionals and voluntary workers on the role of the baby's maternal grandmother. Breastfeeding Medicine, 9(3):161-165. Brown, A., Raynor, P. & Lee M, 2011. Young mothers who choose to breast feed: the importance of being part of a supportive breast-feeding community. Midwifery, 27(1): 53-59. Cabieses,B., et al., 2014. What factors explain pregnant women's feeding intentions in Bradford, England: a multi-methods, multi-ethnic study.BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth, 14(50): 28 Dodds, R. 2013. 21 UK Infant Feeding Survey: Good news for breastfeeding. British Journal of Midwifery, 21(3): 179-186 Dyson, L., et al., 2010. Factors influencing the infant feeding decision for socioeconomically deprived pregnant teenagers: the moral dimension. Birth, 37(2): 141-149. Entwistle, F. Kendall, S. & Mead, M. 2010. 84 Breastfeeding support – the importance of self-efficacy for low-income women. Maternal and Child Nutrition, 6(3): 228-242. Gage, H., et al., 2012. Influences on infant feeding decisions of first-time mothers in five European countries. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition,66(8): 914-919 Grassley, J.S. 2010. Adolescent mothers' breastfeeding social support needs. Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic and Neonatal Nursing, 39(6): 713-722. Henderson, L., et al., 2011. Men and infant feeding: perceptions of embarrassment, sexuality, and social conduct in white low-income British men. Birth, 38(1): 61-70 Hunter, L. & Magill-Cuerden, J. 2014. Young mothers' decisions to initiate and paradox between being, but not being able to be seen to be, a good mother. Evidence Based Midwifery, 12 (2): 46-51. Hoddinott, P. et al., 2014. The push me, pull you of financial incentives and health inequalities: a mixed methods study investigating smoking cessation in pregnancy and breastfeeding. The Lancet 384(37):37. Ibanez, G. et al., 2012. Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials evaluating primary care-based interventions to promote breastfeeding in low-income women. Family Practice, 29(3):245-254. MacGregor, E. &Hughes, M. 2010. Breastfeeding experiences of mothers from disadvantaged groups: a review. Community Practitioner, 83(7): 30-33. Robb, Y. 2015. Would financial rewards encourage mothers to breastfeed their babies? Journal of Health Visiting, 3(2): 84-89. Uzun, A.K. et. al., 2013.A comparison between adolescent mothers and adult mothers in terms of maternal and infant outcomes at follow-ups. The Journal of Maternal-Fetal and Neonatal Medicine, 26(5): 454-458. Whitford, H. 2015. Encouraging breastfeeding: financial incentives. The Practising Midwife 18(2): 18-21. Read More