Breastfeeding Practices among Arab Mothers in Calgary with a Focus on Exclusive Breastfeeding: A Qualitative Inquiry
Date
2018-11-15
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Abstract
Breastfeeding is university acknowledged as providing health benefits for the child, for breastfeeding mothers, and for the community. The World Health Organization and Health Canada recommend exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of an infant’s life. However, the rates of exclusive breastfeeding practices among immigrant mothers, including Arab mothers residing in Calgary, are lower when compared with rates for non-immigrant Canadian mothers and mothers in the immigrants’ countries of origin. Using critical ethnography, the purpose of this study was to explore the contextual factors that influence initiation and exclusive breastfeeding practices by Arab immigrant mothers. Ten Arab mothers residing in Calgary were interviewed. Three of these mothers were interviewed twice for member checking. An analysis of the qualitative narrative data indicated that knowledge, family, religion, and infant feeding practices influence Arab immigrant mothers’ initiation and exclusive breastfeeding practices. The findings from this study can be used to facilitate supportive culturally safe and sensitive interventions that are tailored to address Arab mothers’ breastfeeding concerns and needs, so that exclusive breastfeeding might be promoted within this population in Canada. Further, the research will provide information needed for addressing key challenges relating to culture, religion, and the healthcare system with the practice of exclusive breastfeeding.
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Breastfeeding, Exclusive Breastfeeding, qualitative research, Critical ethnography method, Arab mothers, Immigrant mothers
Citation
Dorri, R. A. (2018). Breastfeeding Practices among Arab Mothers in Calgary with a Focus on Exclusive Breastfeeding: A Qualitative Inquiry (Master's thesis, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada). Retrieved from https://prism.ucalgary.ca. doi:10.11575/PRISM/34514