Dietary factors in early life (infant feeding practices and timing of introduction of solid foods) are the most potentially modifiable early life exposures associated with childhood growth, as compared to genetic determinants, co-morbidity, and other environmental influences. Yet, studies assessing the association of infant feeding with growth may be limited by out-of-date data and unable to compare results due to inconsistent definitions of infant feeding practices. Mixed feeding (i.e. breast and bottle feeding) calls for special attention due to the reality of mothers returning to work after childbirth in the US. This report used data from the National Children’s Study Formative Research in Physical Measurements. A discovery set of 300 participants were selected by ethnicity from the sample available when this report was developed. This report emphasized statistical methods as well as data pre-processing, which are critical but typically under-studied. This report is intended to contribute towards closing this gap by describing a study from design, data pre-processing, to analysis. Results showed that non-Hispanic Black children had the lowest rates of ever and exclusively breastfeeding, compared to Hispanics and non-Hispanic Whites. Mothers aged 30 years and over, married, and educated above the high school level exclusively breastfed more than other mothers. Mixed feeding was categorized into three and five subgroups according to maternal recalls of the extent or frequency of breast/formula-feeding and compared by mean durations of breast/formula-feeding. Mixed feeding groups may provide unique opportunities to assess the relationship between mixed feeding versus exclusively breast/formula-feeding and childhood linear growth in the author’s dissertation. The percentage of children who were breastfed less than 6 months differed from those breastfed more than 6 months by ethnicity, child’s birthweight, gestational age, maternal age at childbirth, education level, and marital status, which suggests 6 months as a reasonable cut-off for breastfeeding categorization. Children of low birthweight and born preterm were introduced to solid foods later than those of normal/high birthweight and those born on time/postterm, even after adjusting for ethnicity. Analyses on a re-test set will be performed and compared to this discovery set in the author’s dissertation. / text

Breastfeeding trends in the United States have varied considerably since the early 1900s. Medical and federal surveys representing comprehensive data on breastfeeding rates of American women show an inconsistency in breastfeeding trends over the course of the past 110 years. Some decades report a growth in breastfeeding rates of infants newborn to 6 months, whereas other decades report a decline. This report examines breastfeeding trends from the early 1900s to present day to suggest which factors have played a role in the decline and rise of breastfeeding in the United States. / text

Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) / The benefits of breastfeeding are widely known and documented, yet breastfeeding rates at six months have remained well below desired levels. In order to fully understand the breastfeeding experience in the early postpartum period and all the intricacies involved, researchers need to provide mothers with the opportunity to talk about their experiences during the time when there are the most difficulties and when they are most likely to discontinue, the first four weeks postpartum. The purpose of this study was to more fully understand, in their own words, the experiences of mothers who began breastfeeding their infant after birth and may or may not have been breasting at four weeks postpartum. A single research question guided this study: What are the lived experiences of breastfeeding mothers during the first four weeks postpartum? Eight mothers who delivered in the past four to six weeks were interviewed. Data were analyzed using a Heideggerian hermeneutic phenomenological approach. This method was chosen because it allowed the researcher to conduct interviews and explore the lived experience of breastfeeding mothers and to uncover the concealed meaning within the phenomena. This methodology provided a richness that might not be possible through description alone. The narratives shared by the mothers demonstrated that initiating breastfeeding and sustaining it in the early postpartum period was a complex process. Each mother’s breastfeeding experience was unique to her but also similar to someone else’s. The overall constitutive pattern of Getting the Hang of It was selected and consisted of four themes and nine subthemes. The four themes included: Physical Experiences, Emotional Complexities, Infant Involvement in Breastfeeding Process, and Support. These themes and their subsequent subthemes provide insight into the complexities experienced by mothers in order to acquire the skills they needed to breastfeed their infants. Breastfeeding mothers, who have had favorable and unfavorable experiences, are willing to share a wealth of information. Health professionals should encourage mothers to talk about their experiences and listen to what they are saying. Through listening they can provide mothers with the resources and support needed to meet their breastfeeding goals.

In this mini-dissertation the aim was to explore and describe the safety of infant feeding practices. It is argued that safe infant feeding practices can have a positive and long term effect on the health status and growth development of all infants. World wide, countries but more specific developing countries, are faced with the growing dilemma of high mortality and morbidity rates among infants. The need to find a way to eliminate and prevent the causing factors of life-threatening infectious diseases like diarrhoea and HIV/AIDS is now more important than ever before. A sound nutritional foundation together with safe infant feeding methods play a predominant role in ensuring the very survival of the infant. A cross-sectional, descriptive research design was used in this study. Non-probability sampling was used to identify the sample who complied with the set selection criteria. The research took place in a semi-urban community as the community serves a large group of mothers and infants as well as being accessible to the researcher. The semi-urban community was also identified as an area with health care needs that could be addressed in the research project. A questionnaire was adapted from an existing WHO assessment tool. A pilot study was conducted after which the questionnaire was finalised and the questionnaires were completed with the aid of three fieldworkers. Data collection took place until the sample size (n=155) was achieved according to the calculation of the statistician. The data analysis was done by means of descriptive statistics such as frequency, percentage, mean and standard deviation by using the STATISTICA data analysis software system programme. The results of the research study indicated that the majority of participants practice mixed feeding methods which do not comply with safe infant feeding standards. Infant feeding methods are not changed during illness or disease experienced by either the mother or infant, which again may greatly compromise their health status. The uptake of HIV testing and disclosure were relatively high. Recommendations are made for nursing education, nursing research and nursing practice with special focus on establishing safe infant feeding practices. / Thesis (M.Cur.)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2008.

No description available.

In this mini-dissertation the aim was to explore and describe the safety of infant feeding practices. It is argued that safe infant feeding practices can have a positive and long term effect on the health status and growth development of all infants. World wide, countries but more specific developing countries, are faced with the growing dilemma of high mortality and morbidity rates among infants. The need to find a way to eliminate and prevent the causing factors of life-threatening infectious diseases like diarrhoea and HIV/AIDS is now more important than ever before. A sound nutritional foundation together with safe infant feeding methods play a predominant role in ensuring the very survival of the infant. A cross-sectional, descriptive research design was used in this study. Non-probability sampling was used to identify the sample who complied with the set selection criteria. The research took place in a semi-urban community as the community serves a large group of mothers and infants as well as being accessible to the researcher. The semi-urban community was also identified as an area with health care needs that could be addressed in the research project. A questionnaire was adapted from an existing WHO assessment tool. A pilot study was conducted after which the questionnaire was finalised and the questionnaires were completed with the aid of three fieldworkers. Data collection took place until the sample size (n=155) was achieved according to the calculation of the statistician. The data analysis was done by means of descriptive statistics such as frequency, percentage, mean and standard deviation by using the STATISTICA data analysis software system programme. The results of the research study indicated that the majority of participants practice mixed feeding methods which do not comply with safe infant feeding standards. Infant feeding methods are not changed during illness or disease experienced by either the mother or infant, which again may greatly compromise their health status. The uptake of HIV testing and disclosure were relatively high. Recommendations are made for nursing education, nursing research and nursing practice with special focus on establishing safe infant feeding practices. / Thesis (M.Cur.)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2008.

The initiation and duration of exclusive chest/breastfeeding are important health determinants and a key focus of existing public health policy and programs. Despite the demonstrated benefits of chest/breastfeeding and focus on interventions, overall rates of initiation and exclusivity in Ontario remain low. The purpose of this study was to describe how midwifery clients in Ontario - a population credited with high rates of exclusive chest/breastfeeding - access information to support infant feeding decisions. A descriptive, cross-sectional online electronic survey was conducted using the Midwifery Infant Feeding Information Survey questionnaire which was locally developed for this study. A total of 235 midwifery clients who were either in or recently discharged from midwifery care at the time of the survey completed the questionnaire. Data analysis was completed using descriptive statistics with total counts and content analysis for open-ended questions. This research contributes new knowledge about infant feeding information access including the reported usefulness and preferences of various information sources across the continuum of care; the importance of the midwife-client relationship and the online information environment; potential communication gaps in the delivery of comprehensive prenatal infant feeding information; and self-reported infant feeding patterns suggesting midwifery exclusive chest/breastfeeding rates may not be as high as previously thought. Further research to improve information access is needed in order to identify barriers midwives face in discussing infant feeding with clients; explore the effect of health literacy in an online information environment to support the potential development of evidence-based, midwifery-specific online/digital tools. The study findings are relevant for both the academic and clinical midwifery community in developing effective strategies to further support midwifery clients in meeting their infant feeding goals. This study will further inform researchers, public health practitioners, policy makers, and other stakeholders representing all childbearing families in Ontario. / Thesis / Master of Public Health (MPH) / The goal of this study was to examine how midwifery clients in Ontario access information about infant feeding throughout the pregnancy and postpartum period. An online survey of 235 current and former midwifery clients identified why some information sources were more useful than others, and how infant feeding information could become more accessible. The midwife-client relationship and use of online/digital media were identified as important information sources. However, a number of information gaps were identified that suggest not all clients benefit from comprehensive discussions with their midwife in preparation for infant feeding. Further research is needed to understand barriers midwives may face in discussing infant feeding with their clients, and the use of online/digital tools to support midwifery clients to meet their infant feeding goals. The results of this study may benefit all childbearing families in Ontario.

No description available.

This study explored the factors which affect the feeding and weaning practices of Emirati mothers as well as the experiences and perceptions which influence their breastfeeding decisions. It used both quantitative and qualitative methods to examine Emirati mothers’ understanding of infant feeding and to identify the factors which appeared to have a relevant effect and locate them in their cultural context. n the survey, a convenientce sample of 593 mothers with infants aged up to 2 years was interviewed face to face in the maternal and child healthcare centers in Al Ain, Dubai and Abu Dhabi. The interview was based on a pretested structured questionnaire. The results of multiple logistic analysis showed that the time of initiation of the first breastfeed was significantly associated with the infant’s birth weight (OR=2.007; P<0.023), parity (OR=2.139; P<0.001) and rooming in (OR=21.70; P<0.001). As for the feeding patterns, the results of the multiple logistic analysis revealed that rooming in (OR=4.485; P<0.001), feeding on demand (OR=2.290; P<0.005) and feeding more frequently at night (P<0.001) emerged as significant factors associated with exclusive or almost exclusive breastfeeding practices. The duration of breastfeeding rate was significantly influenced by many variables. Concerning the duration of lactational amenorrhea, the, the multiple logistic analysis showed that mother's age, breastfeeding duration and the early introduction of formula milk and solid food emerged as significant variables. Among the 593 infants in the study, 24.1% were predominantly breastfed,25% of the infants were exclusively breastfed, and 49.4% were almost exclusively breastfed since birth. Fifteen Emirati mothers from each city were interviewed about their breastfeeding practices, beliefs and perceptions. The following themes emerged: the influence of others, the sources of information, infants’ behavior, knowledge of and attitudes towards current WHO recommendations and mothers’ perception of the benefits of breastfeeding. Health promotions and healthcare facilities failed to deliver the message of the importance of exclusive breastfeeding. Grandmothers and mothers-in-law appeared to influence the mother's breastfeeding practices. In conclusion, there is a need for a national community-based breastfeeding intervention programme for the promoting exclusive breastfeeding practices as part of a primary public health strategy.

The successful transition to motherhood can be associated with the experience of infant feeding, and women’s views of whether that experience has been positive or negative can shape the mothering experience. However, nurses’ engagement with best practice breastfeeding promotion may elicit negative responses from women who are either unsuccessful in their attempts to breastfeed, or do not breastfeed for other reasons. Are nurses adequately prepared or supported to deal with the variety of infant feeding challenges that inevitably arise in perinatal practice settings? For example, Canadian perinatal nurses are expected to conform to WHO-conceived Baby Friendly expectations to disseminate evidence that pertains to the health risks of introducing formula to infants. However, in some circumstances, infant formula is recommended by practitioners in order to provide crucial hydration and/or nourishment, which destabilizes the discourse of risk, and creates confusion for mothers. Questions also arise about the appropriateness of nurses applying WHO guidelines to every woman without first considering intersectional realities which may not align with BF recommendations to breastfeed for six months and beyond. These questions, and others, informed the research question: “What is nurses’ experience of infant feeding support?” Eleven perinatal nurses from across Canada were interviewed. The conversations were interpreted using Gadamerian hermeneutic methodology. Participants described a variety of practices and dilemmas that they associate with infant feeding “support,” highlighting that complex and contradictory forces are at play for nurses involved in infant feeding support as well as the unintended and negative consequences of following BF best practice guidelines. / Graduate / humphriesj@camosun.bc.ca