Chinese women's experiences, emotions and expectations of breast-feeding in public: a qualitative study. Issue 8 (1st February 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Zhao, Ya; Ouyang, Yan-Qiong; Redding, Sharon R
• Is Part Of: Public health nutrition. Volume 21:Issue 8(2018)
• Page Start: 1565
• Page End: 1572
• Publication Date: 2018-02-01
• Subjects: Breast-feeding, -- Experience, -- Expectation, -- Public, -- Qualitative study; Nutrition -- Periodicals; Nutrition policy -- Periodicals; Public health -- Periodicals; 613.2
• DOI: 10.1017/S1368980017003937
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1368-9800

Abstract

Abstract: Objective: To explore Chinese mothers' experiences, emotions and expectations of breast-feeding in public places. Design: Exploratory qualitative study. Purposive sampling was used to recruit participants and face-to-face interviews were conducted. Themes were identified by content analysis. Setting: Two different geographical communities in Wuhan, Hubei Province, central China, March–May 2016. Subjects: A total of twenty-seven mothers aged 23–33 years, who had one child under 3 years of age and had experience of breast-feeding in public places. Results: Seven themes emerged from the interviews: struggling to balance infant's needs and personal feelings; embarrassed or natural emotion regarding breast-feeding in public places; effect of cultural and social norms; internalized concerns going beyond actual social reaction; measures to make breast-feeding in public places easier; desire for more public facilities; and expecting emotional support from society members. Conclusions: More positive social support, favourable policies and necessary facilities were desired to enable mothers to breast-feed in an appropriate public location. Women expected increased public acceptance of breast-feeding practices and support from government health officials to ensure women's success in breast-feeding in public settings.