I decided to learn more about breastfeeding, as I researched the topic, I came across many vital benefits of breastfeeding for infants and mothers. This topic is meaningful to me because children’s health and nutrition drastically affects their healthy development in various developmental domains. I decided to find information about breastfeeding in Africa, because I work in a community with many families from Africa and I wanted to learn more information about their high infant mortality rate. Learning more about issues and concerns that effect children I encounter is important to help provide quality services and establish healthy relationships.
Sierra Leone is located in West Africa and it has the highest infant mortality rate in Africa overall. The world’s average infant mortality rate in 2006 was 72 deaths per 1,000 births compared to Sierra Leone average rate 270 deaths per 1,000 births, children died from preventable causes such as diarrhea and malaria (Associated Press, 2008). In an effort to decrease the deaths of infants many campaigns rose to encourage woman to breastfeed to prevent or reverse the effects of illnesses. The Sierra Leone government established free health care for pregnant and breastfeeding women but women were either turned away due to lack of funds for medicine or clinics were inaccessible from their rural communities (Associated Press, 2008). Officials state progress is being made to strengthen their practices (Associated Press, 2008). But there are more issues that interfere with mothers that decide to breastfeed their infants in Sierra Leone, one is malnutrition, and it prevents mothers from exclusively breastfeeding despite its many benefits. Many mothers do not have enough to eat and are often too hungry to breastfeed, as a substitute they feed their babies porridge and water (Kaplan, 2009). Another issue is soon after birth women need to return to work on farms and cannot breastfeed and often leave their infants in the care of others (CRS., n.d). Also some traditional beliefs prevent women from breastfeeding over a long period of time. Some believe it is unacceptable to have relations with breastfeeding women therefore many husbands pressure their wives to stop (Associated Press, 2008). Many efforts continue to encourage breastfeeding to cut the mortality rate in Sierra Leone. Some family friendly farms were created to welcome working mothers with children under 3 to support exclusive breastfeeding (CRS., n.d). Mothers are able to bring their babies to work and afford nutritious food from crops. Breast milk offers perfect nutrition and changes to meet the needs of babies as they grow, it also fight and protect babies from illnesses and help reduce the mortality rate.
The information I learned may impact my future work because I work with families from various parts of Africa and having an understanding of their culture and traditions sets the foundation for effective partnerships. Also in an effort of advocacy I can advocate healthy nutrition and the benefits of breastfeeding to families in the community and hopefully share they will share the information with their families in Africa to help reduce their high infant mortality rate. “One voice can change a room, and if one voice can change a room, then it can change a city, and if it can change a city, it can change a state, and if it change a state, it can change a nation, and if it can change a nation, it can change the world. Your voice can change the world.” ― Barack Obama
Resources
Associated Press. (2008) UN Child Mortality Rate Highest In Sierra Leone. Retrieved from http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22782340/ns/health-childrens_health/t/un-child-mortality-highest-sierra-leone/
Catholic Relief Services. (n.d) Agriculture for Health: Baby Friendly Farms Enabling Exclusive Breastfeeding in Sierra Leone. Retrieved from http://www.crsprogramquality.org/storage/pubs/agenv/babyfriendlyfarms.pdf
Kaplan, K. (2009) Salma Hayek On Why She Breastfed Another Woman’s Baby. Retrieved from http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/story?id=6854285&page=1
Hello Katara,
ReplyDeleteThe article about Selma Hayek was great to read. There are so many advantages to breastfeeding: mother-child bonding, fighting off diseases, not getting up at night to nurse- it's always the perfect temperature, easy supply, better nutrients,and it is money saving ( Berger,2009). Breast milk is called liquid gold it is easy for a child to digest. It is also good for the mother's oxytocin levels (hormone that helps milk flow and calm the mother(Women's Health). Promoting breast feeding is a great cause. How wonderful for Selma Hayek to share such a life giving gift ( Kaplan, 2009).
Resources:
Berger,K.S. (2009. The developing person through childhood(5th.ed). New York, NY: Worth Publishers.
Kaplan, K. (2009) Salma Hayek On Why She Breastfed Another Woman’s Baby. Retrieved from http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/story?id=6854285&page=1
Women's health.gov(2011, August): Why breastfeeding is important. Retrieved from http://www.women'shealth.gov/breastfeeding/why-breastfeeding-is-important/