Breastfeeding in Public Spaces: Difficult and Facilitating Factors from the Perspective of the Socio-Ecological Model

Year 2024, Issue: 8, 45 - 50, 29.04.2024

Ummahan Yücel Buse Kaya

https://doi.org/10.58252/artukluhealth.1475147

Abstract

Introduction: The World Health Organization recommends that a baby be exclusively breastfed for the first six months of his or her life and continue breastfeeding with complementary foods until the age of two and beyond. Breastfeeding is very important for a baby's healthy growth and development. Despite the many benefits of breastfeeding for mother and baby, mothers face many breastfeeding barriers. One of these barriers is the restriction of breastfeeding in public spaces.
Methods: In this study, barriers and facilitators for women breastfeeding in public spaces were examined via a literature review through the Socio-Ecological Model, which is widely used in the field of public health.
Results: Public space is defined as areas outside the home where different people live together and interact with each other and are accessible to the entire society. In studies investigating women's breastfeeding experiences in public spaces, it is seen that two main themes are generally discussed that make the breastfeeding experience in public spaces easier and more difficult. Many factors affect breastfeeding mothers' breastfeeding experiences in public spaces within the scope of these two main themes. As a result of the interaction of these factors, women's behavioral patterns towards breastfeeding in public spaces develop. The Socio-Ecological Model is widely used in the field of public health in order to understand the multifaceted effects of personal and environmental factors that determine the health-related behaviors of the individual and to improve health. Socio-Ecological Model consists of five levels: individual, interpersonal, social, organizational and public policy level.
Conclusion: It has been concluded that the Socio-Ecological Model associated with breastfeeding in public has many hindering factors as well as facilitating factors related to the social, interpersonal and public policy levels.

Keywords

Public space, Breastfeeding, Socio-Ecological Model, Child health

Kamusal Alanlarda Emzirme: Sosyo-Ekolojik Model Perspektifiyle Zorlaştıran ve Kolaylaştıran Faktörler

Abstract

Giriş: Dünya Sağlık Örgütü; bir bebeğin yaşamının ilk altı ayında yalnızca emzirilmesini, iki yaş ve sonrasına kadar tamamlayıcı besinlerle birlikte emzirilmeye devam edilmesini önermektedir. Bir bebeğin sağlıklı büyüyebilmesi ve gelişebilmesi için emzirme çok önemlidir. Emzirmenin anne ve bebek açısından var olan pek çok yararına rağmen anneler birçok emzirme engeli ile karşılaşmaktadır. Bu engellerden biri de, kamusal alanlarda emzirme kısıtlılığıdır.
Yöntem: Bu derlemede halk sağlığı alanında yaygın olarak kullanılan Sosyo-Ekolojik Model aracılığıyla kadınların kamusal alanlarda emzirmelerinin önündeki engeller ve kolaylaştırıcılar literatür taraması ile incelenmiştir.
Bulgular: Kamusal alanlar; farklı insanların bir arada oldukları, birbirleriyle etkileşim içinde yaşadıkları, toplumun tümünün erişebildiği, ev dışındaki alanlar olarak tanımlanmaktadır. Kadınların kamusal alanlarda emzirme deneyimlerinin araştırıldığı çalışmalarda, genellikle emzirme deneyimini kolaylaştıran ve zorlaştıran iki ana temanın ele alındığı görülmektedir. Emziren annelerin kamusal alanlarda emzirme deneyimlerini bu iki ana tema kapsamında pek çok faktör etkileyebilmektedir. Bu faktörlerin birbirleriyle etkileşimi sonucunda da kadınlarda kamusal alanlarda emzirmeye yönelik birtakım davranış biçimleri gelişmektedir. Bireyin sağlıkla ilgili davranışlarını belirleyen kişisel ve çevresel faktörlerin çok yönlü etkilerini anlamak ve sağlığın geliştirilmesi amacıyla halk sağlığı alanında yaygın olarak Sosyo-Ekolojik Model kullanılmaktadır. Sosyo-Ekolojik Model; bireysel, kişilerarası, toplumsal, organizasyonel ve kamu politikaları düzeyi olmak üzere beş düzeyden oluşmaktadır.
Sonuç: Kamusal alanda emzirme ile ilişkili Sosyo-Ekolojik Model’in toplumsal, kişilerarası ve kamu politikaları düzeyi ile ilgili kolaylaştırıcı unsurların yanı sıra pek çok engelleyici faktörlerin de olduğu sonucuna ulaşılmıştır.

Keywords

Kamusal alan, Emzirme, Sosyo-Ekolojik Model, Çocuk sağlığı

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