Breast-feeding and feeding practices of infants in a developing country: a national survey in Lebanon

Batal, Malek; Boulghourjian, Choghik; Abdallah, Ahmad; Afifi, Rima

doi:10.1079/phn2006860

Cited by 85 publications

(111 citation statements)

References 21 publications

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“…They are often approached informally for medical advice through wide social connections (i.e., friends, family, neighbors, friends of friends). Consistent with previous reports on the influential role physicians have on women’s breastfeeding-related decisions in Lebanon [18,19,21], many of our participants highlighted that ‘buy-in’ from women to initiate and continue breastfeeding may be largely influenced by physicians they trust ( manuscript in preparation ). Therefore, the period during undergraduate and graduate medical education for all areas of specialty may provide a critical window of opportunity to target a broad audience of future physicians for maximized impact on breastfeeding rates in Lebanon.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 84%

“…Around the globe, limited knowledge, negative beliefs, and lack of interest in the topic of breastfeeding have been reported [15,18,19,21–23]. It may be possible to overcome these barriers in part through early interventions beginning in undergraduate medical schools and extending to relevant residency programs [10,11].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Second, medical schools in developing nations are serving an enormous fraction of the population, and yet they are under researched and do not receive as much attention in the larger medical education literature. Third, physicians in Lebanon are known to be highly influential on patient health practices, and suboptimal breastfeeding rates particularly in developing nations may have drastic consequences on maternal and infant health [8,17,18,21]. Indeed, approximately 38% of infants only are exclusively breastfed during the first month of life and around 2% at 6 months of age in Lebanon [25,26].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

A case study on breastfeeding education in Lebanon’s public medical school: exploring the potential role of social networks in medical education

Moukarzel

Mamas

Warstadt

et al. 2018

Medical Education Online

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Background: Limited knowledge, negative beliefs, and lack of sufficient breastfeeding promotion and support by physicians contribute to global suboptimal breastfeeding rates. Formal medical education is well-known to influence future physicians’ knowledge, beliefs, and medical practice. However, less understood is the influence of social networks and processes on the exchange and diffusion of knowledge and practices related to breastfeeding. Objectives: We selected the underserved and under-supported public medical school in Lebanon to examine the social side of medical education. Our objectives were to assess knowledge, beliefs, and self-efficacy related to breastfeeding promotion and support among interns and residents. We also examined the social ecosystem surrounding these students concerning the exchange of breastfeeding knowledge. Design: All data were collected during one study visit per participant. First, an interview-administered structured survey was used to assess beliefs, perceived knowledge, basic breastfeeding knowledge, and self-efficacy related to breastfeeding among n = 70 medical interns and residents. Then, social network data were collected during a semi-structured interview and analyzed using an ego-network approach. All interviews were voice-recorded, transcribed, coded, and thematically analyzed. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze quantitative survey and social network results. Results: Although interns and residents had positive beliefs about breastfeeding benefits, they had limited knowledge and low self-efficacy related to the psychosocial and clinical aspects of breastfeeding promotion and support. They did not seem to have a well-connected professional network around breastfeeding knowledge and practices. Several tended to rely on their informal/non-professional network, such as their mothers, partners, and sisters, for knowledge and practice. Conclusions: Our work using breastfeeding as an exemplary case suggests there is a role for better attending to the beliefs of medical students as well as to the social side of medical education. Future studies can use social network theory to help identify and address influences on medical education outcomes.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 84%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

A case study on breastfeeding education in Lebanon’s public medical school: exploring the potential role of social networks in medical education

Moukarzel

Mamas

Warstadt

et al. 2018

Medical Education Online

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Our additional analysis of the 2000 Korea National Fertility and Family Health Survey revealed the rate was 74.8% in 2000. In addition, the rate was higher than those found in Hong Kong (34%) 8 , France (57%) 9 , The Netherlands and the USA (approximately 70%) 10,11 and Singapore (76%) 12 , although the rate was lower than those found in Australia and New Zealand (90%) 13,14 , Lebanon (95%) 15 and rural Vietnam (98%) 16 .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 60%

Breast-feeding in South Korea: factors influencing its initiation and duration

Chung

Kim

Nam

2008

Public Health Nutr.

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Objective: To investigate factors influencing the practices of partial breast-feeding (PBF) and exclusive breast-feeding (EBF). Results: The initiation rates of PBF and EBF were 81% and 63%, respectively. However, the median durations of PBF and EBF were very short: 12 and 8 weeks, respectively. According to stepwise logistic and Cox regression analyses, the more prenatal care women received, the more likely they were to initiate PBF and EBF but the less likely to continue EBF. Delivery by Caesarean section decreased the initiation of PBF and EBF. The mother's education level and employment status before marriage, the amount of prenatal care, delivery method and baby's status at birth affected breast-feeding initiation, whereas the amount of prenatal care influenced breast-feeding duration. Conclusion: To promote breast-feeding, education and campaigning on the importance of continued breast-feeding should be provided to the general public, particularly to health workers in maternity units.

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“…18 Malek et al higher education correlates with shorter period of breastfeeding. 19 As per WHO and UNICEF guidelines promote Exclusive Breast Feeding for six months and nutritionally adequate and safe complementary food starting from end of six months along with continued breast feeding for two years. 20 Complementary feeding term has replaced the term weaning and consist of appropriate, adequate, hygienically prepared, homemade mashed food given to a baby after six months of life when breast feeding alone is insufficient for the baby's nutritional needs.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%