1.Perceptions and Practice of Exclusive Breastfeeding among Malay Women in Kelantan, Malaysia: A Qualitative Approach
Tengku Alina TI ; Wan Abdul Manan WM ; Zaharah S ; Rohana AJ ; Nik Normanieza NM
Malaysian Journal of Nutrition 2012;18(1):15-25
Introduction: Despite evidence from various studies on exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) being best for infants, many women do not or are unable to practise EBF.
This study aimed to examine perceptions on EBF and its influencing factors among a sample of Malay women in rural and urban areas in Kelantan, Malaysia.
Methods: A qualitative study using in-depth interviews was conducted to examine respondents’ views about EBF including their beliefs, experiences and feelings. The interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim, followed by discussion and identification of emergent concepts.
Results: Data saturation was achieved after interviewing a total of 30 women. The mean age of the women was about 30 years with most having at least secondary level schooling;
the majority were working women. Thirteen of the 30 women practised EBF. They believed breastfeeding allowed them to fulfill their reproductive role and regarded it as a gift from God. The practice required sacrifice, and was therefore associated with a combination of positive and negative feelings. Differing opinions surfaced with regard to belief in the superiority of breastfeeding and
feasibility of practice. Many women accepted breastfeeding practice but found it challenging to practise EBF especially when confronted with low milk production, perceived low nutritional quality breast milk, and work
commitments. Conclusion: Women should be educated on the importance of EBF with regard to the nutritional adequacy of breast milk and long term benefits for mother and children.
2.Experiences of women who underwent induced lactation: A literature review
Zaharah Sulaiman ; Shahirah Mohd Hassan ; Tengku Alina Tengku Ismail
Malaysian Family Physician 2021;16(1):18-30
Objective: This article aims to review the literature published over the past five decades related to the experiences of women who have undergone induced lactation.
Methods: A comprehensive electronic search was conducted using PubMed, the Library of Congress, Google Scholar, SAGE, and ScienceDirect. The following search keywords were used: adoptive breastfeeding, induced lactation, non-puerperal lactation, extraordinary breastfeeding, and milk kinship. The search was restricted to articles written in English and published from 1956 to 2019. All study designs were included except for practice protocols.
Results: A total of 50 articles about induced lactation were retrieved. Of these, 17 articles identified the experiences of women who underwent induced lactation. The articles included original papers (n=7), reviews (n=5), and case reports (n=5). Four articles were specifically related to Malaysia, and the others were international. These 17 articles concerning the experiences of women who induced lactation will be reviewed based on four themes related to inducing lactation: (a) understanding women’s perception of satisfaction, (b) emotional aspects, (c) enabling factors, and (d) challenges.
Conclusion: Identifying a total of only 17 articles on induced lactation published over the last 53 years suggests that the subject is understudied. This review provides emerging knowledge regarding the experiences of women who have induced lactation in terms of satisfaction, emotions, enabling factors and challenges related to inducing lactation.
3.Intention and actual exclusive breastfeeding practices among women admitted for elective cesarean delivery in Kelantan, Malaysia: A prospective cohort study
Nazirah Johar ; Noraini Mohamad ; Norkhafizah Saddk ; Tengku Alina Tengku Ismail ; Zaharah Sulaiman
The Medical Journal of Malaysia 2020;75(3):274-280
Introduction: The intention of a woman to breastfeed is one
of the predictors of breastfeeding initiation and duration.
Objective: The aim of this study is to determine exclusive
breastfeeding (EBF) intention among women admitted for
elective cesarean delivery in Kelantan and their postnatal
EBF practices.
Methods: A total of 171 women, mostly Malays, admitted for
elective cesarean delivery at two tertiary hospitals in
Kelantan participated in this prospective cohort study. The
Malay version of Infant Feeding Intentions (IFI) scale was
administered one day before the surgery to determine the
EBF intention, and follow-up phone calls were made at one
month, three months, and six months after delivery to
determine the actual EBF practices.
Results: Before delivery, 86.5%, 82.5% and 77.2% of the
women somewhat agreed or very much agreed to practice
EBF for 1, 3 and 6 months respectively and the actual EBF
practices after delivery were 80.1%, 59.6%, and 42.1%.
Women who had the intention to practice EBF for 6 months
were about 2 times more likely to practice EBF for 6 months
than those who did not have the intention to EBF (OR 2.19,
95% CI: 1.01-4.76). No significant association was found
between EBF intention and the actual EBF practices at 1
month and 3 months postnatal.
Conclusions: The number of women who practiced EBF
after cesarean delivery was lower than those who had the
intention prior to delivery. The number further declined as
the child grew older. Prenatal EBF intention was associated
with actual postnatal EBF practices at 6 months.