Infant feeding experiences of women who were sexually abused in childhood.
OBJECTIVE
To explore the effects of childhood sexual abuse (CSA) on women's breastfeeding and infant feeding decisions and experiences.


METHODS
Qualitative, participatory study using semistructured in-depth interviews.


METHODS
Tamara's House, a healing centre for women who were sexually abused in childhood, located in Saskatoon, Sask.


METHODS
Six mothers who were sexually abused in childhood.


METHODS
In-depth interviews were conducted and transcribed verbatim. Thematic analysis was iterative and participatory. The emerging themes that resulted from initial analysis by the researchers were presented at a meeting held jointly with academics, survivors, and professionals in the field to achieve consensus. Throughout the process, findings were considered in relation to related literature on breasts, breastfeeding, and CSA.


RESULTS
History of CSA complicated the women's infant feeding decisions and experiences. For 2 women, birthing and breastfeeding facilitated healing from the effects of the abuse. Shame, touch, breasts, dissociation, medical care, and healing emerged as analytic themes.


CONCLUSIONS
A history of CSA can affect a woman's experience of breastfeeding, including acting as a trigger for remembering or reexperiencing the abuse. Women who were sexually abused as children need to experience a sense of safety, acceptance, sensitivity, and understanding. Physicians need to be aware of the effects of CSA on infant feeding and women's health, and might need to be trained in a sensitive-practice approach to working with patients who were sexually abused as children.
Wood
Karen
K
University of Saskatchewan, Community Health and Epidemiology, Health Sciences Bldg, 107 Wiggins Rd, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5E5. ke.wood@shaw.ca
Van Esterik
Penny
P
D000328:Adult; D001828:Body Image; D001940:Breast; D001942:Breast Feeding / Q000523:psychology*; D002648:Child; D004213:Dissociative Disorders / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012525:Saskatchewan; D012742:Sex Offenses / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology*; D012752:Shame; D055698:Touch Perception / Q000502:physiology
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