title: A qualitative study of attitudes toward public breastfeeding among young Canadian men and women.
abstract: This research aims to explore, in qualitative terms, attitudes held by a sample of university-educated young men and women residing in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia about breastfeeding in public places. In sum, 20 women and 27 men between the ages of 18 and 23 participated in moderated single-sex focus groups that discussed breastfeeding, following a list of prepared questions and using photographs as discussion cues. Although participants uniformly stated that they desired their future children to be breastfed, 31 of 47 expressed restrictive attitudes toward exposure of the breast (eg, "should use washrooms," "okay if discreet") and breastfeeding in restaurants. Eight expressed positive unrestricted statements about breastfeeding in public spaces. Addressing widely held attitudes toward breastfeeding in public spaces, in addition to providing information about breastfeeding's health benefits, may be helpful in campaigns promoting breastfeeding.
authors.affiliation: Mount Allison University, Sackville, Canada.
authors.forename: Patricia Kelly
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Spurles
authors.forename: Jessica
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Babineau
mesh_terms: D001294:Attitude to Health; D001942:Breast Feeding / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009509:New Brunswick; D009674:Nova Scotia; D011633:Public Facilities; D011639:Public Opinion; D012938:Social Perception; D012945:Social Values; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult