Thesis (MCur)--University of Stellenbosch, 2011. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Breastfeeding is considered as the most preferable method of infant feeding to fulfill babies’ nutritional needs important to the growth and development of babies. Unfortunately, there were babies not breastfed due to numerous reasons including infant illness and hospitalization. The purpose of this research was to describe the experiences and perceptions of nurses regarding breastfeeding in a pediatric setting of an academic hospital in the Province of the Western Cape. A descriptive study design with a qualitative approach was used to explore the experiences and perceptions of auxiliary nurses regarding breastfeeding. Purposive sampling was utilized to consciously select thirteen auxiliary nurses to participate in the study. Semi-structured interviews were used to collect data. Data analysis involved the transcribing of tape recorded interviews, the generating of themes and sub-themes, coding of the data, interpretation and organization of data and the drawing of conclusions. According to the auxiliary nurses’ perceptions, most of the babies in the pediatric setting were not being breastfed. Breastfeeding was being supplemented with formula milk when mothers chose not to breastfeed, experienced breastfeeding problems, were not with the baby or the baby was too sick to breastfeed. The babies’ illness, the hospital environment and lack of resources were challenging auxiliary nurses when supporting breastfeeding mothers. Not all health professionals were supportive of breastfeeding. Interrelated factors including, shortage of staff, time constraints, heavy work-loads, auxiliary nurses’ breastfeeding knowledge and experience, their confidence to support breastfeeding and communication regarding breastfeeding, influenced auxiliary nurses’ ability to support breastfeeding babies and mothers. The research findings indicate that there was a need for breastfeeding promotion in the pediatric setting. Recommendations included a written breastfeeding policy, breastfeeding training for all health care professionals, better breastfeeding education and support for mothers, the maintenance and of breastfeeding during the babies’ illness, adequate accommodation for breastfeeding mothers and the support of breastfeeding mothers who are HIV positive. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Borsvoeding is beskou as die mees verkieslike voeding metode vir babas om hul te voorsien aan die nodige voedingsbehoeftes belangrik vir die groei en ontwikkeling van babas. Die doel van hierdie studie was om die ervarings en persepsies van verpleeg assistente met betrekking tot borsvoeding in ‘n pediatriese instelling in ‘n akademiese hospitaal in die Provinsie van die Weskaap te beskryf. ‘n Beskrywende studie ontwerp met ‘n kwalitatiewe benadering was gebruik ver die doel van die studie. Streekproeftrekking was gebruik om doelbewus drie assistant verpleegkundiges te selekteer om deel te neem aan die studie. Semi-gestruktureerde onderhoude was gebruik om data in te samel. Die data-analise behels die transkibering van band opgeneemde onderhoude, die opwekking van temas en subtemas onderverdeel, kodering van die data, interpretasie an organisasie van die data en die opstel van gevolgtrekkings. Dit was bevind na gelang van die assistant verpleegkundiges se persepsies, dat meeste van die babas in die hospitaal was nie geborsvoed. Borsvoeding was aangevul met formule melk wanneer moeders verkies om nie te borsvoed, ervaar borsvoeding probleme, was nie met die babas, of die baba was te siek om the voed aan die bors. Baba siektes, die hospitaal omgewing en die gebrek aan hulpbronne was uitdagend vir assistant verpleegkundiges om borsvoeding moeders te ondersteun. Interafhanklike faktore insluitend, ‘n tekort aan personeel, tyd beperkinge, swaar werk-vragte, borsvoeding kennis en ondervinding, die vertroue om borsvoeding te ondersteun en kommunikasie met betrekkking tot borsvoeding, het die borsvoeding ondersteuning van assistant verpleegkundiges beinvloed. Die navorsingsbevindinge dui daarop dat daar ‘n behoefte was aan borsvoeding bevordering in die hospitaal. Aanbevelings sluit in ‘n skriftelike borsvoeding beleid, borsvoeding opleiding vir alle gesondheidspersoneel, beter borsvoeding inligting en ondersteuning vir moeders, die instandhouding van borsvoeding tydens hospitalisasie, voldoende akkomodasie vir borsvoeding moeders and die ondersteuning van borsvoeding moeders wat MIV-positief is.