Barriers and Opportunities for Improved Exclusive Breast-Feeding Practices in Tanzania: Household Trials With Mothers and Fathers.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Effective promotion of exclusive breast-feeding (EBF) is needed to improve child nutrition and survival.

Objective

We explored barriers and facilitators to EBF in rural Tanzania and assessed parents' willingness and ability to try specific recommended EBF practices plus strategies for men to support breast-feeding.

Methods

We conducted Trials of Improved Practices in 36 households with infants <6 months. Fathers participated in focus group discussions on ways to support breast-feeding. Fathers and mothers were individually interviewed 2 and 3 times, respectively, about their willingness to try and experience with selected new practices. We analyzed data thematically.

Results

Common barriers to EBF were (1) use of gripe water and traditional medicines

SUBMITTER: Matare CR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7751330 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature