Abstract
Objective
The aim of the study was to outline breastfeeding barriers faced by women residing in the State of Qatar.
Methods
A cross-sectional study through a telephone interview was conducted at Hamad Medical Corporation, the only tertiary care and accredited academic institution in the State of Qatar. Mothers of children born between the period of January 1, 2012 and December 31, 2012 in the State of Qatar were contacted.
Results
Of the total 840 mothers who were contacted for the telephone survey, 453 mothers agreed to be interviewed (response rate 53.9%), while 364 (43.3%) did not answer the phone, and 21 (2.5%) answered the phone but refused to participate in the study. The overall breastfeeding initiation rate among the mothers was 96.2%, with 3.8% mothers reporting that they had never breastfed their baby. The percentage of mothers who exclusively breastfed their children in the first 6 months was 24.3%. The most common barriers to breastfeeding as perceived by our participants were the following: perception of lack of sufficient breast milk after delivery (44%), formula is easy to use and more available soon after birth (17.8%), mom had to return to work (16.3%), lack of adequate knowledge about breastfeeding (6.5%), and the concept that the infant did not tolerate breast milk (4.9%).
Conclusion
Exclusive breastfeeding barriers as perceived by women residing in the State of Qatar, a wealthy rapidly developing country, do not differ much from those in other nations. What varies are the tremendous medical resources and the easy and comfortable access to health care in our community. We plan to implement a nationwide campaign to establish a prenatal breastfeeding counseling visit for all expecting mothers.
Keywords:
Supplementary material
Which food was given first after birth?
| □ | breast milk, | ||||
| □ | glucose water, | ||||
| □ | formula milk, | ||||
| □ | others | ||||
Have you breastfed?
| □ | yes | ||||
| □ | no | ||||
If yes,
For how long was your child exclusively breastfed (months)?
| □ | Less than one month | ||||
| □ | one month | ||||
| □ | two months | ||||
| □ | three months | ||||
| □ | 4 months | ||||
| □ | 5 months | ||||
| □ | 6 months | ||||
| □ | more than six months | ||||
At what age you introduced milk or food other than breast milk
| □ | Less than one month | ||||
| □ | one month | ||||
| □ | two months | ||||
| □ | three months | ||||
| □ | 4 months | ||||
| □ | 5 months | ||||
| □ | 6 months | ||||
| □ | more than six months | ||||
Conclusion (Breastfeeding):
| □ | ever breastfeeding | ||||
| □ | any breastfeeding | ||||
| □ | any breastfeeding at 12 month | ||||
| □ | exclusive breastfeeding | ||||
What do you think is the reason that you did not initiate or continued exclusive breastfeeding? (Answer one or more)
| □ | Formula is easy to use and more available soon after birth | ||||
| □ | Lack of adequate knowledge about breastfeeding | ||||
| □ | Breastfeeding will not provide enough milk | ||||
| □ | Breastfeeding causes unappealing changes in breast shape | ||||
| □ | Formula contains more nutritional value than breast milk | ||||
| □ | Return to work | ||||
| □ | Other reasons: | ||||
Other comments:
Acknowledgments
The authors would like to thank the Medical Research center in Hamad Medical Corporation for their support and ethical approval. Data from the earlier stages of the study were presented in the 2015 American Academy of Pediatrics National Conference & Exhibition.
Disclosure
The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work.