Extended Breastfeeding and Appropriate Weaning Age: Perception in Nursing Students
Mariah Z. Vande Lune
Dr. Anton Daughters, Faculty Mentor

This study examines nursing students views on the infant feeding controversy (i.e. breast milk vs. infant formula and appropriate weaning age) to ascertain how mothers feeding choices are influenced. Interviews were conducted asking a series of questions concerning breastfeeding in socio-cultural and medical contexts. Insights gathered from these future nurses shows that breastfeeding is seen as the ideal form of infant feeding in our society. However, societal beliefs are often dichotomous in nature. The respondents sympathized with mothers who breastfeed and bottle-feed because both are negatively affected socio-culturally. The respondents emphasis on promoting breast milk and respecting a mothers choice is also important in maternal care policies. Nevertheless, all respondents indicated that these policies could be improved in order to holistically prepare mothers to feed their infants. The results indicate factors in both socio-cultural and medical contexts which provide avenues for improvement.

Keywords: breastfeeding , maternal care, nursing, infant feeding, socio-cultural , medical, weaning age, society

Topic(s):Anthropology

Presentation Type: Oral Paper

Session: 216-
Location: OP 2210
Time: 

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