Susanha Yimyam

Breastfeeding Practices Among Employed Thai Women in Chiang Mai

In many developing countries, labor force participation by women in the childbearing years has increased rapidly. Social and economic changes present new challenges for women attempting to combine their roles as workers and mothers. Little is known about how these challenges affect infant feeding choices. This multidisciplinary study investigated work and infant feeding decisions among 313 employed women in Chiang Mai, Thailand. Resumption of employment generally had negative affects on breastfeeding rates and duration. At 6 months postpartum, women who worked inside the home breastfed more than those working in the formal sector at jobs with inflexible hours (home, 80%; public sector, 37%; private sector, 39%). Women who were working outside the home for a long period or had shift jobs encountered many obstacles to maintaining breastfeeding, and most gave it up within 1 month after resuming employment. There is a need for multisectoral policies that address obstacles to breastfeeding among women in the paid labor force in Thailand.

Breastfeeding Beliefs and Practices Among Employed Women: A Thai Cultural Perspective

Breastfeeding is a natural female function, and is also a customary method of infant feeding. In Thailand, breastfeeding initiation is a nearly universal practice. However, breastfeeding duration was shortened. This chapter derives from a combined qualitative and quantitative study that investigated the relationship between socio-economic, cultural factors, and breastfeeding among 300 employed women in Northern Thailand. The study found that Thai women have positive attitudes toward breastfeeding and breast milk in terms of the nutritious, immunological, behavioral, and economic benefits. The peak rates of breastfeeding at 1 month also coincide with the period of confinement ‘yu duan’. Within this period, the women have to rest at home and are relieved of all household duties chores, only caring for their infants for a month. Generally, these traditional beliefs and practices provide an opportunity for the women to adjust to their new role as a mother. Since both mother and baby always stay together, they can learn from each other. Moreover, strong social endorsement of the value of breastfeeding (and the obligation it places on the next generation) reinforces the benefits of breastfeeding during confinement. However, some cultural beliefs and practices can act as barriers to breastfeeding. These include perceptions that ‘breastfeeding can cause infant illness’, ‘there is no breast milk in the first few days’, ‘breast milk later in lactation is inadequate in nutritional value’, and the practice of giving a bottle of water or formula at an early age. Together with a lack of knowledge about the mechanics of breastfeeding, or how to solve breastfeeding problems, these notions may diminish confidence and lead to early weaning. Therefore, it appears that cultural beliefs and practices, combined with support from family members, may be the most important factors influencing breastfeeding practices in the first month in northern Thailand.

Spiritual Healing Practices Among Rural Postpartum Thai Women.

Purpose: Postpartum Thai women follow family instructions to recover health at home. This study explores first-time mothers’ experiences with postpartum family practices. This article presents the experiences with spiritual healing, one of the three essences of Thai traditional medicine. Design: An interpretive phenomenological study was conducted in rural Thailand. Participants were 16 pregnant women purposively recruited. Data were collected using in-depth interviews, participant observations, and a demographic record and were analyzed using thematic and exemplar analysis. Results: The women adhered to practices and rituals related to beliefs about three essences (the body, mind–heart, and energy). Spiritual healing works on mind–heart essences. Conclusion: A new mother healed her spirit through traditional postpartum practices. The findings provide an understanding of the practices within the context of rural Thai women’s families. This information can guide future implementation of postpartum care, with awareness of and respect for cultural practices in fulfilling spiritual needs.

Developing a workplace breast feeding support model for employed lactating mothers

Resuming work is often considered an obstacle for continued breast feeding. The objectives of this participatory action research study were to develop a breast feeding support model in the workplace and to compare breast feeding rates before and after implementation of the breast feeding support campaign. Twenty-four women participated before the implementation of the breast feeding support campaign, whereas 31 women participated after the campaign. Data were collected by interviewing employed women about their breast feeding practices within six months post partum. Additional data were collected through interviews with the workplace administrator and head of work sections as well as observation of the breast feeding support campaigns. Qualitative data were analysed using thematic analysis, whereas quantitative data were analysed using descriptive statistics and χ(2) test. The workplace breast feeding support model was developed based on the concept of Mother-Friendly Workplace Initiatives by the World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (WABA) and the Thai government׳s promotion of a workplace breast feeding corner. Within this model, a committee for breast feeding support was created for working with the research team to develop breast feeding activities and media for breast feeding education and breast feeding support campaigns in the workplace. Breast feeding rates at six months after implementation of the breast feeding support campaign were significantly higher than rates before, both for exclusive breast feeding and any breast feeding at levels .004 and .033, respectively. These results suggest that breast feeding should be encouraged in every workplace depending on context. Individual advice and help for employed mothers should be provided from pregnancy through weaning in the postpartum period.