title: Maternal-infant health beliefs and infant feeding practices: the perception and experience of immigrant Vietnamese women in Sydney.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to describe and compare the health beliefs and infant feeding behaviour of Vietnamese women before and after immigration to Sydney. Findings from 20 in-depth face to face interviews conducted in the women's homes revealed that infant feeding behaviour was shaped by the women's beliefs about maternal, infant and family health. Through a process of adaptation these health beliefs had been modified under the influence of the social, cultural, and economic environment of the host country. The findings offer a greater understanding of Vietnamese culture and infant feeding behaviour on which to base nursing intervention programs to promote breast feeding.
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Rossiter
mesh_terms: D000069:Acculturation; D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health / Q000208:ethnology*; D004641:Emigration and Immigration; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007224:Infant Care; D007225:Infant Food; D008875:Middle Aged; D009517:New South Wales; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D014744:Vietnam / Q000208:ethnology; D014930:Women / Q000523:psychology*