title: Maternal Perceptions and Views About Breastfeeding Practices Among Emirati Mothers.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Understanding women's breastfeeding perceptions and experiences is increasingly recognized as a vital tool to provide effective support that would encourage the extension of the breastfeeding period.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To identify and explore the perceptions and views that influence the feeding and weaning decisions of Emirati mother.
  
  
  METHODS
  A qualitative study using indepth interviews was undertaken with a convenience sample of 45 Emirati mothers who had infants aged between 6 months and 2 years. Participants were interviewed in the health centers in 3 cities in United Arab Emirates. Data were recorded through field notes and analyzed thematically using grounded theory analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The following themes emerged: influences of others on the decisions to breastfeed, sources of information, infants' behavior and participants' views and decisions about when to introduce supplementary feeding, knowledge of and attitudes toward current World Health Organization recommendations, and mothers' perception of the benefits of breastfeeding. Grandmothers in this study played an important role in the breastfeeding practices of Emirati mothers. They supported breastfeeding, however, some encouraged giving the infants prelacteal feeds for a variety of reasons: colic, hunger, promoting growth, and hydration. Fathers, according to the mothers, either supported or ignored breastfeeding practices.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Health promotions and health care facilities failed to deliver the message of exclusive breastfeeding. Mothers in our study were resorting to the expertise of the grandmothers and receiving information and advice about child feeding from them. The findings highlight the need for successful intervention programs to be implemented for mothers and grandmothers through health care providers.
authors.affiliation: Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics Department, College of Health Sciences, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates hradwan@sharjah.ac.ae.
authors.forename: Hadia
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Radwan
authors.affiliation: University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, Scotland.
authors.forename: Roger
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sapsford
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001942:Breast Feeding; D005260:Female; D000066502:Grandparents; D006266:Health Education; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006282:Health Personnel; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D009035:Mothers; D014479:United Arab Emirates; D014944:World Health Organization
keywords: breastfeeding; complementary food; early childhood nutrition; maternal and child nutrition