Abstract
Abstract: A study to examine the relationships between specific infant feeding choices, demographic factors, cultural beliefs, and bio-medical knowledge was conducted. Three hundred thirteen (313) consecutive parturient women, of whom 68 were 18 years old or younger at the time of their first delivery, were interviewed. Of these adolescents, 16 were breastfeeding (24%) as compared to 56% of all women in the sample. Of those who were young, but married, 46% were breastfeeding. Young mothers knew breast milk was best for the infant, but thought bottlefeeding was best for the mother because of the proscriptions and prescriptions required for breastfeeding and the wish to share the feeding with others. The need to work or the desire to return to school was not given as reasons to bottlefeed. The choice between breastfeeding and bottlefeeding is found to be affected by cultural beliefs and values such as young mothers' beliefs about interdependence and reliance on others.
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Lawrence, R., Gabriel, A. & Gabriel, K. 10 BIOMEDICAL KNOWLEDGE, CULTURAL VALUES AND CHOICES FOR INFANT FEEDING AMONG ADOLESCENT MOTHERS. Pediatr Res 19, 112 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198504000-00040
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198504000-00040
