Labor Perceptions Concerning Exclusive Breastfeeding and  Formula Milk

Authors

Perception, Female Labour, Formula, Breastfeeding, exclusive breastfeeding

Background: The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends exclusive breastfeeding during the first

6 months of a child’s life. But the rate of exclusive breastfeeding is still low. Various factors affect the

duration of exclusive breastfeeding. Work is often the reason for the failure of exclusive breastfeeding.

Objectives: The research aims to describe the perceptions of female labours regarding breastfeeding and

formula milk. Method: This research method is qualitative research. Data was collected through observation,

in-depth interviews with 6 nursing labours, 5 lactation counsellors and focus group discussions (FGD)

involving 10 labours. Results: Perceptions of female labours regarding breast milk and milk are vary. Some

labours think that breast milk is the best food for their children. But other labours think that formula milk

is better than breast milk because it contains additional substances not found in breast milk. Conclusions:

Labours’ perceptions about breast milk and formula milk are still diverse. Interventions to improve mothers’

understanding of the benefits and advantages of breastfeeding need to be carried out to support the success

of exclusive breastfeeding

Kuntari T1 , Julia, M2 , Prabandari, Y.S3 , Mahendradhata, Y4

1 Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, Indonesia Islamic University, Yogyakarta, Indonesia. Student of Doctoral Programme in Faculty of Medicine, Public Health and Nursing UGM, Yogyakarta, Indonesia, 2Professor, Department of Child Health, Faculty of Medicine, Public Health and Nursing UGM, Yogyakarta, Indonesia, 3 Professor, Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, Public Health and Nursing UGM, Yogyakarta, Indonesia, 4Associate Professor, Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, Public Health and Nursing UGM, Yogyakarta, Indonesia