DOI: https://doi.org/10.14710/nmjn.v11i1.33539

A Qualitative Study on the Breastfeeding Experiences of Young Mothers

*Andari Wuri Astuti orcid scopus  -  Universitas 'Aisyiyah Yogyakarta, Indonesia
Herlin Fitriana Kurniawati orcid scopus  -  Universitas 'Aisyiyah Yogyakarta, Indonesia
Herlin Fitriani Kurniawati scopus  -  Universitas 'Aisyiyah Yogyakarta, Indonesia
Open Access Copyright (c) 2021 Nurse Media Journal of Nursing
Creative Commons License This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

Citation Format:
Abstract

Background: Breastfeeding practice for young mothers could be problematic, especially when supports are absent. Evidence reported that young mothers have risks of experiencing mental health problems and of behavioural problems in their children. Data showed that 36 per 1,000 childbirth occurred among Indonesian female adolescents aged 15-19 during 2018. Nevertheless, the breastfeeding experience of young mothers has not been well studied, particularly in the Indonesian context. Therefore, to develop professional caring and supporting relationships, it is important to address this knowledge gap.
Purpose: This study aimed to explore the experiences of breastfeeding practices among Indonesian young mothers.
Methods: A qualitative exploratory study was employed, and one-to-one in-depth interviews were conducted on 18 young mothers between May until August 2019. Data analysis was guided by Colaizzi’s thematic approach.
Results: Four key themes emerged from the qualitative data, i.e., formal support of breastfeeding, the role of family, partner and peers, culture and judgement, and future aspirations and healthcare. Indonesian young mothers sought formal information on breastfeeding from healthcare providers. However, there was a lack of translation into practices due to lack of supports from partners, cultural beliefs, and parents' interference, which consequently led to the failure of breastfeeding. Indonesian young mothers were suggesting that breastfeeding information should also be provided to their circle of supports, such as partners and close relatives.
Conclusion: Indonesian young mothers experienced complex situations through their journey of breastfeeding practices. A tailored maternity health service involving partners, parents, and communities into culture-sensitive programme intervention is needed to provide professional caring, and reliable supportive sources of breastfeeding for young mothers.

 

Fulltext View|Download
Keywords: Breastfeeding; Indonesia; qualitative study; young mother
Funding: Ministry of Research, Technology and Higher Education of Republic of Indonesia

Article Metrics:

Article Info
Section: Articles
Language : EN
Recent articles
Nurses’ Intention to Work during the COVID-19 Outbreak in West Sumatra, Indonesia Balance Strategy Exercise versus Lower Limb-ROM Exercise for Reducing the Risk of Falls among Older People Effectiveness of Pelvic Floor Muscle Training and Yoga on the Quality of Life in Perimenopausal Women with Urinary Incontinence Editorial Back Matter Editorial Front Matter More recent articles
Most cited articles
Cardiac Rehabilitation Enhancing Programs in Patients with Myocardial Infarction: A literature Review A Review of the Quality Improvement in Discharge Planning through Coaching in Nursing Relationships between Triage Knowledge, Training, Working Experiences and Triage Skills among Emergency Nurses in East Java, Indonesia Perceived Ability to Practice in Disaster Management among Public Health Nurses in Aceh, Indonesia Improving Self-Efficacy and Physical Self-Reliance of Patients with Pulmonary Tuberculosis through Mindfulness More cited articles
  1. Alifia, U. (2016). Barriers to optimal exclusive breastfeeding practices in Indonesia: What leaders say. The SMERU Research Institute. http://smeru.or.id/sites/default/files/events/barriers_to_optimal_eb_in_indonesia_final_0.pdf
  2. Anggorowati, A., Sutadi, H., Setyowati, S., & Koestoer, R. A. (2017). Effects of acupoint stimulation with digital massager of oxytocin on the breast milk production of working mothers. Nurse Media Journal of Nursing, 6(2), 91–100. https://doi.org/10.14710/nmjn.v6i2.11726
  3. Astuti, A. W., Hirst, J., & Bharj, K. K. (2019). Indonesian adolescents’ experiences during pregnancy and early parenthood: A qualitative study. Journal of Psychosomatic Obstetrics and Gynecology, 41(4), 317–326. https://doi.org/10.1080/0167482X.2019.1693538
  4. Astuti, A. W., Kurniawati, H. F., & Fitriani, H. (2020). Knowledge about sexual and reproductive health (SRH), practice of premarital sexual relationship and pregnancy among Indonesian adolescents: A qualitative exploratory study. International Journal of Advanced Science and Technology, 29(7), 191–204
  5. Astuti, A. W., & Morgan, R. (2018). Interventions analysis of addressing exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) barriers to improve EBF coverage among industrial women employees in indonesia. Journal of Health Technology Assessment in Midwifery, 1(1), 1–16. https://doi.org/10.31101/jhtam.442
  6. Baker, P., Smith, J., Salmon, L., Friel, S., Kent, G., Iellamo, A., Dadhich, J. P., & Renfrew, M. J. (2016). Global trends and patterns of commercial milk-based formula sales: Is an unprecedented infant and young child feeding transition underway?. Public Health Nutrition, 19(14), 2540–2550. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1368980016001117
  7. Beyerlein, A., & von Kries, R. (2011). Breastfeeding and body composition in children: Will there ever be conclusive empirical evidence for a protective effect against overweight? The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 94(May), 1772S–1775S. https://doi.org/10.3945/ajcn.110.000547.1772S
  8. Bich, T. H., Long, T. K., & Hoa, D. P. (2019). Community-based father education intervention on breastfeeding practice—Results of a quasi-experimental study. Maternal and Child Nutrition, 15(S1), e12705). https://doi.org/10.1111/mcn.12705
  9. Biks, G. A., Tariku, A., & Tessema, G. A. (2015). Effects of antenatal care and institutional delivery on exclusive breastfeeding practice in Northwest Ethiopia: A nested case-control study. International Breastfeeding Journal, 10(1), 1–6. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13006-015-0055-4
  10. Brown, A., & Davies, R. (2014). Fathers’ experiences of supporting breastfeeding: Challenges for breastfeeding promotion and education. Maternal and Child Nutrition, 10(4), 510–526. https://doi.org/10.1111/mcn.12129
  11. Chowdhury, R., Sinha, B., Sankar, M. J., Taneja, S., Bhandari, N., Rollins, N., Bahl, R., & Martines, J. (2015). Breastfeeding and maternal health outcomes: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Acta Paediatrica, International Journal of Paediatrics, 104, 96–113. https://doi.org/10.1111/apa.13102
  12. Colaizzi, P. F. (1978). Psychological research as the phenomenologist views it. In R. S. Valle & M. King (Eds.), Existential-phenomenological alternatives for psychology (pp. 48–71). Oxford University Press
  13. Creswell, J. W., & Poth, C. N. (2017). Qualitative inquiry and research design: Choosing among five approaches (4th ed.). SAGE Publications, Inc
  14. Danso, J. (2014). Examining the practice of exclusive breastfeeding among professional working mothers in Kumasi Metropolis of Ghana. International Journal of Nursing, 1(1), 11–24
  15. Dieterich, C. M., Felice, J. P., O’Sullivan, E., & Rasmussen, K. M. (2014). Breastfeeding and health outcomes for the mother-infant dyad. Pediatric Clinics of North America, 60(1), 31–48. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pcl.2012.09.010
  16. Draman, N., Mohamad, N., Yusoff, H. M., & Muhamad, R. (2017). The decision of breastfeeding practices among parents attending primary health care facilities in suburban Malaysia. Journal of Taibah University Medical Sciences, 12(5), 412–417. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jtumed.2017.05.005
  17. Esmaelzadeh Saeieh, S., Rahimzadeh, M., Yazdkhasti, M., & Torkashvand, S. (2017). Perceived social support and maternal competence in primipara women during pregnancy and after childbirth. International Journal of Community Based Nursing and Midwifery, 5(4), 408–416
  18. Flick, U., Kvale, S., Angrosino, M., Barbour, R., Banks, M., Gibbs, G., & Rapley, T. (2007). The Sage qualitative research kit. SAGE Publications
  19. Frank, N. M., Lynch, K. F., Uusitalo, U., Yang, J., Lönnrot, M., Virtanen, S. M., Hyöty, H., & Norris, J. M. (2019). The relationship between breastfeeding and reported respiratory and gastrointestinal infection rates in young children. BMC Pediatrics, 19(1), 339. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12887-019-1693-2
  20. Gyesaw, N. Y. K., & Ankomah, A. (2013). Experiences of pregnancy and motherhood among teenage mothers in a suburb of Accra, Ghana: A qualitative study. International Journal of Women’s Health, 5(1), 773–780. https://doi.org/10.2147/IJWH.S51528
  21. Hansen, E., Tesch, L., & Ayton, J. (2018). ’They’re born to get breastfed’- how fathers view breastfeeding: A mixed method study. BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth, 18(1), 1–7. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-018-1827-9
  22. Hodgkinson, S., Beers, L., Southammakosane, C., & Lewin, A. (2014). Addressing the mental health needs of pregnant and parenting adolescents. Pediatrics, 133(1), 114–122. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2013-0927
  23. Hoover, R. S., & Koerber, A. L. (2011). Using NVivo to answer the challenges of qualitative research in professional communication: Benefits and best practices: Tutorial. IEEE Transactions on Professional Communication, 54(1), 68–82. https://doi.org/10.1109/TPC.2009.2036896
  24. Hughes, V. (2015). The baby-friendly hospital initiative in US hospitals. Infant, Child, and Adolescent Nutrition, 7(4), 182–187. https://doi.org/10.1177/1941406415592671
  25. Hunegnaw, M. T., Gezie, L. D., & Teferra, A. S. (2017). Exclusive breastfeeding and associated factors among mothers in Gozamin district, Northwest Ethiopia: A community based cross-sectional study. International Breastfeeding Journal, 12(1), 1–8. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13006-017-0121-1
  26. Johnson, A. M., Kirk, R., Rooks, A. J., & Muzik, M. (2016). Enhancing breastfeeding through healthcare support: Results from a focus group study of African American mothers. Maternal and Child Health Journal, 20(1), 92–102. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10995-016-2085-y
  27. Joseph, F. I., & Earland, J. (2019). A qualitative exploration of the socio-cultural determinants of exclusive breastfeeding practices among rural mothers, North West Nigeria. International Breastfeeding Journal, 14(1), 1–11. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13006-019-0231-z
  28. Kamoun, C., & Spatz, D. (2018). Influence of Islamic traditions on breastfeeding beliefs and practices among African American muslims in West Philadelphia: A mixed-methods study. Journal of Human Lactation, 34(1), 164–175. https://doi.org/10.1177/0890334417705856
  29. Mannion, C. A., Hobbs, A. J., McDonald, S. W., & Tough, S. C. (2013). Maternal perceptions of partner support during breastfeeding. International Breastfeeding Journal, 8(1), 1–7. https://doi.org/10.1186/1746-4358-8-4
  30. Ministry of Health Republic of Indonesia. (2018). Data dan informasi profil kesehatan Indonesia (Data and information of Indonesian health profile). Ministry of Health. http://www.depkes.go.id/resources/download/pusdatin/profil-kesehatan-indonesia/Data-dan-Informasi_Profil-Kesehatan-Indonesia-2018.pdf
  31. Nsiah-Asamoah, C., Doku, D. T., & Agblorti, S. (2020). Mothers’ and grandmothers’ misconceptions and socio-cultural factors as barriers to exclusive breastfeeding: A qualitative study involving health workers in two rural districts of Ghana. PLoS ONE, 15(9), e0239278. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0239278
  32. Oddy, W. H., Li, J., Whitehouse, A. J. O., Zubrick, S. R., & Malacova, E. (2011). Breastfeeding duration and academic achievement at 10 years. Pediatrics, 127(1). https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2009-3489
  33. Oladejo, A., Elizabeth, A., & Isaac, A. (2019). Role of religion on knowledge, attitude and practices of lactating mothers on infant feeding. International Journal of Nutrition, (3), 17–21. https://doi.org/10.14302/issn.2379
  34. Percy, W. H., Kostere, K., & Kostere, S. (2015). Generic qualitative research in psychology. Qualitative Report, 20(2), 76–85
  35. Pérez-Escamilla, R., Martinez, J. L., & Segura-Pérez, S. (2016). Impact of the baby-friendly hospital initiative on breastfeeding and child health outcomes: A systematic review. Maternal and Child Nutrition, 12(3), 402–417. https://doi.org/10.1111/mcn.12294
  36. Platt, M. (2017). Marriage, gender and Islam in Indonesia (1st ed.). Routledge
  37. Pradanie, R., Rachmawati, P. D., & Cahyani, M. D. (2020). Factors associated with mothers’ behaviors in selecting complementary feeding in Surabaya, Indonesia. Nurse Media Journal of Nursing, 10(3), 306–316. https://doi.org/10.14710/nmjn.v10i3.27706
  38. Reczek, C., Liu, H., & Umberson, D. (2011). Just the two of us? How parents influence adult children’s marital quality. Journal of Marriage and Family, 46(4), 564–574. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1741-3737.2010.00759.x
  39. Rokhmah, N. L., & Astuti, A. W. (2020). Breastfeeding practices among young mothers: A scoping review. International Journal of Psychosocial Rehabilitation, 24(6), 7869–7883. https://doi.org/10.37200/IJPR/V24I6/PR260796
  40. Siregar, A. Y. M., Pitriyan, P., & Walters, D. (2018). The annual cost of not breastfeeding in Indonesia: The economic burden of treating diarrhea and respiratory disease among children (<24 mo) due to not breastfeeding according to recommendation. International Breastfeeding Journal, 13(1), 1–10. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13006-018-0152-2
  41. Smith, P. H., Coley, S. L., Labbok, M. H., Cupito, S., & Nwokah, E. (2012). Early breastfeeding experiences of adolescent mothers: A qualitative prospective study. International Breastfeeding Journal, 7, 13. https://doi.org/10.1186/1746-4358-7-13
  42. Sriyasak, A., Almqvist, A. L., Sridawruang, C., Neamsakul, W., & Häggström-Nordin, E. (2016). Struggling with motherhood and coping with fatherhood – A grounded theory study among Thai teenagers. Midwifery, 42, 1–9. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.midw.2016.09.005
  43. Subbiah, N., & Jeganathan, A. (2012). Socio-cultural beliefs influencing breastfeeding practices among primi postnatal mothers residing in urban slum area of Delhi. Health and Population: Perspectives and Issues, 35(2), 61–73
  44. Sukriani, W., Suryaningsih, E. K., & Linh, N. D. (2020). The relationship of the maternal-fetal attachment and the attitude toward exclusive breastfeeding among pregnant women in Indonesia. Journal of Health Technology Assessment in Midwifery, 3(1), 18–23. https://doi.org/10.31101/jhtam.1324
  45. Tewabe, T., Mandesh, A., Gualu, T., Alem, G., Mekuria, G., & Zeleke, H. (2017). Exclusive breastfeeding practice and associated factors among mothers in Motta town, East Gojjam zone, Amhara Regional State, Ethiopia, 2015: A cross-sectional study. International Breastfeeding Journal, 12(1), 1–7. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13006-017-0103-3
  46. Titaley, C. R., Loh, P. C., Prasetyo, S., Ariawan, I., & Shankar, A. H. (2014). Socio-economic factors and use of maternal health services are associated with delayed initiation and non-exclusive breastfeeding in Indonesia: Secondary analysis of Indonesia Demographic and Health Surveys 2002/2003 and 2007. Asia Pacific Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 23(1), 91–104. https://doi.org/10.6133/apjcn.2014.23.1.18
  47. Uwaezuoke, S. N., Eneh, C. I., & Ndu, I. K. (2017). Relationship between exclusive breastfeeding and lower risk of childhood obesity: A narrative review of published evidence. Clinical Medicine Insights: Pediatrics, 11, 117955651769019. https://doi.org/10.1177/1179556517690196
  48. Wanjohi, M., Griffiths, P., Wekesah, F., Muriuki, P., Muhia, N., Musoke, R. N., Fouts, H. N., Madise, N. J., & Kimani-Murage, E. W. (2017). Socio-cultural factors influencing breastfeeding practices in two slums in Nairobi, Kenya. International Breastfeeding Journal, 12(1), 1–8. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13006-016-0092-7
  49. WHO. (2018). Global Breastfeeding Scorecard, 2018. Enabling women to breastfeed through better policies and programmes. https://www.who.int/nutrition/publications/infantfeeding/global-bf-scorecard-2018.pdf?ua=1
  50. Yohmi, E., Marzuki, N. S., Nainggolan, E., Partiwi, I. G. A. N., Sjarif, B. H., & Oswari, H. (2016). Prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding in Indonesia: A qualitative and quantitative study. Paediatrica Indonesiana, 55(6), 302-308. https://doi.org/10.14238/pi55.6.2015.302-8

Last update:

  1. Resisting stigma: the role of online communities in young mothers’ successful breastfeeding

    Christina Severinsen, Eva Neely, Rochelle Hutson. International Breastfeeding Journal, 19 (1), 2024. doi: 10.1186/s13006-024-00626-z

  2. Relationship between family support, personal communication, shared decision making, and breastfeeding in low birth weight babies

    Nikmatur Rohmah, Agung Dwi Laksono. Health Care for Women International, 2023. doi: 10.1080/07399332.2023.2190592

  3. Exploring cultural influences in perinatal and early childhood nutrition

    Shanti Raman, Sharanya Napier Raman, María Camila Pinzón Segura. Revista de Salud Pública, 26 (3), 2024. doi: 10.15446/rsap.v26n3.115569

Last update: 2024-11-19 14:18:58

No citation recorded.