Carer and staff perspectives on supplementary suckling for treating infant malnutrition: qualitative findings from Malawi.

ABSTRACT: Severe acute malnutrition (SAM) in infants aged <6 months is a major global health problem. Supplementary suckling (SS) is widely recommended as an inpatient treatment technique for infant <6 months SAM. Its aim is to re-establish effective exclusive breastfeeding. Despite widespread support in guidelines, research suggests that field use of SS is limited in many settings. In this study, we aimed therefore to describe and understand the barriers and facilitating factors to SS as a treatment technique for infant SAM. We conducted qualitative interviews and focus group discussions in a hospital setting in Blantyre, Malawi, with ward staff and caregivers of infants <2 years. We created a conceptual framework based on five major themes identified from the data: (1) motivation; (2) breastfeedin

SUBMITTER: Lelijveld N 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6860316 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature