Relationships of Cultural Dimensions and Lactation Patterns

Abstract

Background Proper nutrition is essential for infant growth and health. Exclusive breastfeeding is the best pattern for feeding infants in the first 6 months of life. On the other hand, lactation patterns may be influenced by cultural factors. The present study aimed to determine relationships of cultural dimensions and lactation patterns.Methods The present cross-sectional study was conducted on 452 mothers with 6-month and younger infants. Hofstede's cultural dimensions, Power Distance, Individualism vs. collectivism, Masculinity vs. Femininity, Uncertainty Avoidance, Long-Term vs. Short-Term Orientation, and Indulgence vs. Restraint were assessed using a self-administered structured questionnaire. Data was analyzed using descriptive and analytical tests (independent t-test, Eta, phi and Cramer coefficients) and SPSS 18 at a significance level of less than 0.05.Results In the masculinity-femininity dimension, the mean score of exclusive breastfeeding pattern was higher than the non-exclusive breastfeeding (3± 0.48, 2.48±0.50) and there were statistical significant differences between groups (P = 0.03). However, despite different mean scores of power distance, individualism-collectivism, uncertainty avoidance, long term- short term orientation, indulgence- restraint in different breastfeeding patterns, the differences were not statistically significant.Conclusions Masculinity-femininity as a cultural dimension was associated with lactation patterns, so that mothers with greater orientation towards masculinity had higher focus on gender roles of a woman such as breastfeeding and they had greater exclusive breastfeeding. Therefore, some cultural dimensions should be taken into consideration in training and counseling for maternal breastfeeding.