A focused ethnographic assessment of Middle Eastern mothers' infant feeding practices in Canada

Bibliographic Data

ID15536617
AuthorsMahsa Jessri (0000-0001-5197-4962, University of Toronto, corresponding author), Anna Farmer (0000-0002-8238-2537, University of Alberta), Karin Olson (0000-0001-8872-2355, University of Alberta)
Year2013
Volume11
Issue4
Pages673-686
Publication date2013-06-18
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueMaternal and Child Nutrition (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1740-8695 • E-ISSN: 1740-8709
PublisherWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1111/mcn.12048
PMID23795644
OpenAlexW2113562843
LanguageEN
Citations received4
References cited8

The aim of this study was to examine the barriers to following complementary feeding guidelines among Middle Eastern mothers and the cultural considerations of practitioners from an emic perspective. This is a two-phase focused ethnographic assessment of infant feeding among 22 Middle Eastern mothers in Western Canada who had healthy infants aged <1 year. Data were collected through four focus groups conducted in Arabic/Farsi, and were further complemented by comprehensive survey data collected in the second phase of study. Mothers' main criterion for choosing infant foods was whether or not foods were Halal, while food allergens were not causes for concern. Vitamin D supplements were not fed to 18/22 of infants, and mashed dates (Halawi), rice pudding (Muhallabia/Ferni) and sugared water/tea were the first complementary foods commonly consumed. Through constant comparison of qualitative data, three layers of influence emerged, which described mothers' process of infant feeding: socio-cultural, health care system and personal factors. Culture was an umbrella theme influencing all aspects of infant feeding decisions. Mothers cited health care professionals' lack of cultural considerations and lack of relevance and practicality of infant feeding guidelines as the main reasons for ignoring infant feeding recommendations. Early introduction of pre-lacteal feeds and inappropriate types of foods fed to infants among immigrant/refugee Middle Eastern mothers in Canada is cause of concern. Involving trained language interpreters in health teams and educating health care staff on cultural competency may potentially increase maternal trust in the health care system and eventually lead to increased awareness of and adherence to best practices with infant feeding recommendations

Environmental health · Focus group · Health care · Infant formula · Breastfeeding Practices and Influences · Child and Adolescent Health · Food Security and Health in Diverse Populations · Medicine · Nursing · Pediatrics

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