Nadhirah Nordin

Breastfeeding Practices among Malay Academicians in Malaysia

Breastfeeding is essential to the life of a child. Through it, a child becomes healthier and smarter because of the nutrients in breastmilk provide the best source for a baby’s proper growth and development. Unfortunately, not many babies are fully breastfed despite the recommendations from Islam and the Ministry of Health Malaysia. A major factor to this hindrance is the mother’s employment outside the home. This study investigates the extent to which female academics are able to provide breastmilk to their children. This study is quantitative and utilises SPSS 18.00 software to analyse the data. The method for collecting the data is survey and interviews with experts in relevant fields. A total of 140 of the 180 respondents were chosen from three local universities in Kuala Terengganu, Malaysia. The findings reveal that the respondents were willing to give breastmilk up to one year. The findings also show that there is an increased awareness among mothers to breastfeed. These changes may occur due to the mother’s maturity, experience and knowledge. A positive environment that encourages breastfeeding and the technological advancements may also be contributing factors to the improved statistics of breastfeeding.

The Development of Milk Bank According to Islamic Law for Preserving the Progeny of Baby

Milk bank has become a common phenomenon in the Western countries in the USA, UK, and other developed countries. The main purpose of the establishment of milk banks in such countries is to save the babies’ lives and to ensure that the newborn babies’ rights to breast milk are fulfilled. The problem, however, is that milk bank practices in the Western countries contradict with the Islamic law whereby it may result in the possibility of overlapping of the progeny (nasab). Consequently, the 97th Muzakarah of National Fatwa Council for Islamic Affairs Committee, which convened in 15–17 December 2011, had prohibited the implementation of the milk bank. However, due to a critical need of breast milk in hospitals, this study suggests ways to formulate a proper model of milk bank that is compatible with the Islamic law and simultaneously able to avoid further problems of nasab. This is a qualitative study that utilises the content analysis method and has two main objectives: firstly, to review some authoritative legal scholars’ opinions on the issue of milk bank and secondly, to recommend a proposal on how to develop a milk bank in accordance with the Islamic law in Malaysia. The study is expected to be able to draft a proposal to establish a milk bank run by Muslims and to guide its implementation by fulfilling all prerequisites of Islamic law. This recommendation will give some implications to the authorities of the National Fatwa Council to review the prohibition declared in the previous muzakarah. It is recommended that the Ministry of Health provides adequate preparations in terms of expertise, facilities, and equipments to ensure the proper facilitation of the milk bank.