Breastfeeding Myths and Influencing Factors in Married Women

Yıl 2025, Cilt: 35 Sayı: 1, 80 - 85, 28.02.2025

Derya Öztürk Özen , Süheyla Demirtaş Alpsalaz

https://doi.org/10.54005/geneltip.1517191

Öz

Background/Aims: Breastfeeding myths in married women are thoughts and beliefs without any scientific basis that prevent full breastfeeding, especially in the first six months of life. To determine breastfeeding myths and influencing factors in married women.
Methods: This was a cross-sectional descriptive study conducted between May 1 and July 1, 2024, at XXX University Research and Application Hospital Polyclinics. The study included 576 married women over the age of 18 who applied to the polyclinics for any reason, were literate, and volunteered to participate. Data were collected using a "Descriptive Information Form" and the "Breastfeeding Myths Scale (BMS)." Permission was obtained from the XXX University Social and Human Sciences Ethics Committee (Date: 20.03.2024; Decision No: 12/21).
Results: The mean age of the participants was 39.30±14.10 years. Of the women, 30.9% were between the ages of 25-34, 24.8% were high school graduates, 62.9% were unemployed, and 70.8% were from nuclear families. Additionally, 38.4% had three or more children, 27.4% had vaginal deliveries, 74% had breastfeeding experience, and 45.7% received support while breastfeeding. The mean BMS score was 81.64±21.62. Socio-demographic and obstetric variables such as age, educational status, employment status, perceived income status, number of pregnancies, number of living children, number of live births, number of vaginal deliveries, and breastfeeding experience significantly affected breastfeeding myths (p<0.05). There was no statistically significant correlation between BMS scores and family type, place of residence, number of cesarean deliveries, or receiving support while breastfeeding (p>0.05).
Conclusion: The study found that married women have breastfeeding myths, although their level of belief in these myths is low. Sociodemographic and obstetric variables such as age, educational status, number of live births, number of vaginal deliveries, and breastfeeding experience significantly affect breastfeeding myths. It is recommended to raise awareness among married women about breastfeeding myths and their potential harms.

Anahtar Kelimeler

breast milk, breastfeeding, myths, breastfeeding myths, woman

Etik Beyan

Research Ethics Approval for the study conducted at Yozgat Bozok University, Faculty of Social and Human Sciences, was obtained from the Ethics Board (Date: 20.03.2024; Decision No: 12/21). Institutional approval from Yozgat Bozok University Research and Application Hospital was also obtained from the Chief Physician (Date: 29.04.2024; Number: 1692). Additionally, informed consent was obtained from all women participating in the study, and all principles of the Declaration of Helsinki were followed in the research.

Destekleyen Kurum

None.

Proje Numarası

Yoktur.

Teşekkür

We thank all the women who participated in the study.

Kaynakça

• 1. World Health Organization (WHO). Breastfeeding. https://www.who.int/health-topics/breastfeeding#tab=tab_1 (Accessed 26 April 2024).
• 2. United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF). Breastfeeding. https://data.unicef.org/topic/nutrition/breastfeeding/#:~:text=From%20birth%20to%206%20months,no%20matter%20where%20they%20live (Accessed 16 April 2024).
• 3. UNICEF global databases, 2023, based on MICS, DHS and other nationally representative sources.
• 4. Balogun OO, Dagvadorj A, Anigo KM, Ota E, Sasaki, S. Factors influencing breastfeeding exclusivity during the first 6 months of life in developing countries: a quantitative and qualitative systematic review. Matern Child Nutr 2015; 11:433-451. doi: 10.1111/mcn.12180
• 5. Gölbaşı Z, Eroğlu K, Kaya D. Doğum yapan kadınların anne sütü ve emzirme mitlerine inanma durumlarının belirlenmesi. KOU Sag Bil Derg 2018; 4(2):32-43. doi: 10.30934/kusbed.402892
• 6. Yilmaz Sezer N, Aker MN, Gönenç İM, Topuz, Ş. Development of the breastfeeding myths scale. Breastfeed Med 2024; 19(1):40-46. doi: 10.1089/bfm.2023.020
• 7. Sámano R, Lara-Cervantes C, Martínez-Rojano H, Chico-Barba G, Sánchez-Jiménez B, Lokier O, et al. Dietary knowledge and myths vary by age and years of schooling in pregnant mexico city residents. Nutrients 2020; 12(2):362. doi: 10.3390/nu12020362
• 8. Abdalla M, Zein MM, Sherif A, Essam B, Mahmoud H. Nutrition and diet myths, knowledge and practice during pregnancy and lactation among a sample of Egyptian pregnant women: a cross-sectional study. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth 2024; 24(1):1-9. doi: 10.1186/s12884-024-06331-3
• 9. Turan A, Kutlu L. Bebeklerin ilk emzirilmesinde geleneksel yaklaşımların etkisinin değerlendirilmesi. Haliç Üniv Sağ Bil Der 2020; 3(1):53-64.
• 10. Güner Ö, Koruk F. Şanlıurfa'da 0-6 aylık bebeklerin sadece anne sütü alma durumları ve etkileyen faktörler. Harran Univ Tıp Fak Derg 2019; 16(1):111-116.
• 11. Manjapallikkunnel SR, Nair ANK, Sujatha C. Knowledge, attitude and practices among mothers of ınfants regarding breastfeeding. J Family Reprod Health 2023; 17(3):136-141. doi: 10.18502/jfrh.v17i3.13536
• 12. Sabo A, Abba J, Sunusi Usman U, Musa Saulawa I, Alzoubi MM, Al-Mugheed K, et al. Knowledge, attitude, and practice of exclusive breastfeeding among mothers of childbearing age. Front Public Health 2023; 11:1277813. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1277813.
• 13. Uusimäki K, Schneider L, Lubeka C, Kimiwye J, Mutanen M. Mothers' knowledge and practices on breastfeeding and complementary feeding in an urban slum area and rural area in Kenya: A cross-sectional interview study. J Child Health Care 2023; 27(4):612-627. doi: 10.1177/13674935221083451.
• 14. Şimşek A, Balkan E, Çalışkan E, Genç R. Annelerin emzirme öyküleri ve emzirme davranışlarının incelenmesi: Bir Türkiye örneği. J Midwifery and Health Sci 2021; 4(3):222-231.
• 15. Shafaei FS, Mirghafourvand M, Havizari S. The effect of prenatal counseling on breastfeeding self-efficacy and frequency of breastfeeding problems in mothers with previous unsuccessful breastfeeding: a randomized controlled clinical trial. BMC Womens Health 2020; 5;20(1):94. doi: 10.1186/s12905-020-00947-1.
• 16. Türkiye İstatistik Kurumu (TÜİK). 2022. Adrese Dayalı Nüfus Kayıt Sistemi Sonuçları.
• 17. Koç Ö, Özkan H, Sidar N, Can D. Annelerin emzirme koçluğu hakkındaki bilgi, görüş ve tutumlarının değerlendirilmesi. J Contemp Med 2017; 7(2):175-183.
• 18. Ünal E, Şenol DK. Primipar annelerde doğum şeklinin doğum sonu konfor ve emzirme başarısına etkisi. Ordu University J Nurs Stud 2022; 5(2):158-165.
• 19. Eroğlu N, Akbaş DB, Göçmen H, Darıcı H, Arman Ö, Boyar R. İnegöl’de yaşayan kadınların anne sütü farkındalığını ve emzirmeyi etkileyen faktörler. TJTFP 2023; 14(4):223-233.