Attitudes towards infant feeding among adults in a low socioeconomic community: what social support is there for breastfeeding?
An analysis of the role of social support in influencing breastfeeding in a low socioeconomic area in South Australia was undertaken by examining infant feeding attitudes and experiences of mothers, fathers and grandmothers as well as the general community. A random telephone survey of over 3,400 adults (including a more extensive survey of 373 mothers, fathers and grandmothers in the sample) in this area indicated that there was little support for breastfeeding compared to bottle-feeding with similar barriers to breastfeeding found in all target groups as well as the general community. These included breastfeeding in public, the convenience of bottle-feeding, maternal discomfort of breastfeeding, the support required for breastfeeding, fathers' involvement with feeding, and a mother's previous experience of breastfeeding. Strategies promoting and supporting breastfeeding should address these issues and should be directed at the community in general rather than specific groups within the community.
McIntyre
E
E
Department of Public Health, Adelaide University, SA 5005. ellen.mcintyre@adelaide.edu.au
Hiller
J E
JE
Turnbull
D
D
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001903:Bottle Feeding / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D001942:Breast Feeding / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003625:Data Collection; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012944:Social Support; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013021:South Australia; D013689:Telephone; D014931:Women, Working