Exploring the infant feeding experiences of mothers living in selected Tshwane informal settlements: a qualitative study
Objective: The study aimed to explore and describe the infant feeding experiences of mothers of children aged 3 to 24 months, living in two selected informal settlements in Tshwane, South Africa. Design: This exploratory qualitative study gathered data via six focus-group discussions (FGDs). These w...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Taylor & Francis Group
2022-11-01
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| Series: | The South African Journal of Clinical Nutrition |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/16070658.2022.2140498 |
| _version_ | 1797678768779689984 |
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| author | Tshegofatso Betty Mohlala Sithabile Nombulelo Mathunjwa Heather Modiehi Legodi Mamakwa Sanah Mataboge |
| author_facet | Tshegofatso Betty Mohlala Sithabile Nombulelo Mathunjwa Heather Modiehi Legodi Mamakwa Sanah Mataboge |
| author_sort | Tshegofatso Betty Mohlala |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Objective: The study aimed to explore and describe the infant feeding experiences of mothers of children aged 3 to 24 months, living in two selected informal settlements in Tshwane, South Africa. Design: This exploratory qualitative study gathered data via six focus-group discussions (FGDs). These were facilitated using a semi-structured questionnaire guide with probes. Data were then transcribed, coded and thematically analysed. Setting: The study was conducted in the two selected informal settlements in the west of Tshwane, South Africa. Subjects: Biological mothers (n = 28) of infants and young children aged 3 to 24 months, living in the selected informal settlements participated. The mothers had to be living with their child with some responsibility for their daily care and feeding. Results: Three themes with six sub-themes were identified following thematic analysis. First was the mothers’ experience of infant feeding, which included their interpretations and practices of exclusive breastfeeding and complementary feeding. Second, mothers received infant feeding support from their elders based on common beliefs. The support received from healthcare workers was sometimes perceived negatively. However, healthcare workers based at healthcare facilities were important sources of exclusive breastfeeding and complementary feeding information. Third were the setting-related factors that negatively affected the mothers’ ability to access nutritious food for themselves and their infants. These included household food insecurity, plus environmental and household factors affecting food storage and preparation. Conclusion: Mothers experienced several challenging circumstances affecting their infant feeding efforts. These findings highlight the need to strengthen targeted infant feeding counselling and support for mothers living in resource-constrained environments. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T23:04:36Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-9fac6a5ea938415cbecc4f9563e7412f |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1607-0658 2221-1268 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T23:04:36Z |
| publishDate | 2022-11-01 |
| publisher | Taylor & Francis Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | The South African Journal of Clinical Nutrition |
| spelling | doaj.art-9fac6a5ea938415cbecc4f9563e7412f2023-09-21T13:38:27ZengTaylor & Francis GroupThe South African Journal of Clinical Nutrition1607-06582221-12682022-11-01001810.1080/16070658.2022.21404982140498Exploring the infant feeding experiences of mothers living in selected Tshwane informal settlements: a qualitative studyTshegofatso Betty Mohlala0Sithabile Nombulelo Mathunjwa1Heather Modiehi Legodi2Mamakwa Sanah Mataboge3University of PretoriaUniversity of PretoriaUniversity of PretoriaDepartment of Nursing Science, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South AfricaObjective: The study aimed to explore and describe the infant feeding experiences of mothers of children aged 3 to 24 months, living in two selected informal settlements in Tshwane, South Africa. Design: This exploratory qualitative study gathered data via six focus-group discussions (FGDs). These were facilitated using a semi-structured questionnaire guide with probes. Data were then transcribed, coded and thematically analysed. Setting: The study was conducted in the two selected informal settlements in the west of Tshwane, South Africa. Subjects: Biological mothers (n = 28) of infants and young children aged 3 to 24 months, living in the selected informal settlements participated. The mothers had to be living with their child with some responsibility for their daily care and feeding. Results: Three themes with six sub-themes were identified following thematic analysis. First was the mothers’ experience of infant feeding, which included their interpretations and practices of exclusive breastfeeding and complementary feeding. Second, mothers received infant feeding support from their elders based on common beliefs. The support received from healthcare workers was sometimes perceived negatively. However, healthcare workers based at healthcare facilities were important sources of exclusive breastfeeding and complementary feeding information. Third were the setting-related factors that negatively affected the mothers’ ability to access nutritious food for themselves and their infants. These included household food insecurity, plus environmental and household factors affecting food storage and preparation. Conclusion: Mothers experienced several challenging circumstances affecting their infant feeding efforts. These findings highlight the need to strengthen targeted infant feeding counselling and support for mothers living in resource-constrained environments.http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/16070658.2022.2140498infant feedinginformal settlementscomplementary feedingcommunitiesexclusive breastfeedingexperiencesmotherssupport |
| spellingShingle | Tshegofatso Betty Mohlala Sithabile Nombulelo Mathunjwa Heather Modiehi Legodi Mamakwa Sanah Mataboge Exploring the infant feeding experiences of mothers living in selected Tshwane informal settlements: a qualitative study The South African Journal of Clinical Nutrition infant feeding informal settlements complementary feeding communities exclusive breastfeeding experiences mothers support |
| title | Exploring the infant feeding experiences of mothers living in selected Tshwane informal settlements: a qualitative study |
| title_full | Exploring the infant feeding experiences of mothers living in selected Tshwane informal settlements: a qualitative study |
| title_fullStr | Exploring the infant feeding experiences of mothers living in selected Tshwane informal settlements: a qualitative study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Exploring the infant feeding experiences of mothers living in selected Tshwane informal settlements: a qualitative study |
| title_short | Exploring the infant feeding experiences of mothers living in selected Tshwane informal settlements: a qualitative study |
| title_sort | exploring the infant feeding experiences of mothers living in selected tshwane informal settlements a qualitative study |
| topic | infant feeding informal settlements complementary feeding communities exclusive breastfeeding experiences mothers support |
| url | http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/16070658.2022.2140498 |
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