Local perspectives and context in relation to feeding practices of children under 2 years in the mountain villages of northern Thailand

Bibliographic Data

ID15091031
AuthorsAnna Roesler (0000-0001-9446-4700, The University of Adelaide, corresponding author), Lisa G Smithers (0000-0002-6585-7836, The University of Adelaide), Pattanee Winichagoon (0000-0001-8324-6919, Mahidol University), Prasit Wangpakapattanawong (0000-0002-8072-9293, Chiang Mai University), Vivienne Moore (0000-0001-9505-6450, The University of Adelaide)
Year2018
Volume21
Issue16
Pages2989-2997
Publication date2018-11-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenuePublic Health Nutrition (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1368-9800 • E-ISSN: 1475-2727
PublisherCambridge University Press (CUP) (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1017/s1368980018001957
PMID30115134
OpenAlexW2887540031
LanguageEN
Citations received5
References cited41

Objective To gain an in-depth understanding of infant and young child feeding practices, accompanying beliefs and their sociocultural context in the Karen and Lua ethnic communities of northern Thailand. Design A two-day workshop and thirty in-depth interviews were undertaken in June 2014. Dialogue occurred with the assistance of translators and was recorded, transcribed and translated. A detailed thematic analysis was undertaken. Setting Northern Thai indigenous communities in which one-third of the children under 5 years of age are stunted. Subjects People with various roles in the local health system and twenty-six villagers who cared for infants and young children. Results Predominant breast-feeding was said to occur for 1 to 3 months but was not exclusive due to early introduction of water and/or rice. Exclusive breast-feeding for 6 months was impeded by the need for mothers to return to farming work, with the early introduction of solids enabling infants to be cared for by other family members. Low variety in complementary foods was typical during infancy, with few local foods having appropriate texture and special preparation of foods rarely described. A pervasive underlying issue is women’s responsibility to labour and lack of time to care for their young children. Poverty and food insecurity also featured in participants’ accounts. Conclusions In combination, women’s limited time to care, poverty and food insecurity are perpetuating poor nutrition of children in early life. Agricultural solutions that are being explored should also attend to the burden of work for women

Breast feeding · Context (archaeology · Economic growth · Environmental health · Ethnic group · Geography · Indigenous · Poverty · Qualitative research · Social science · Socioeconomics · Sociology · Thematic analysis · Breastfeeding Practices and Influences · Child Nutrition and Water Access · Food Security and Health in Diverse Populations · Medicine · Psychology · Ecology · Pediatrics

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