The reasons for successful exclusive breastfeeding from the parents’ perspective

Abstract

doi: 10.5216/ree.v15i2.16996 - http://dx.doi.org/10.5216/ree.v15i2.16996

ABSTRACT

The objective of this descriptive, exploratory, qualitative study was to understand the reasons that parents assign to successful exclusive breastfeeding of their child during six months of life. Subjects were eight couples, whose children received exclusive breastfeeding until the age of six months, ages between seven and twenty months, followed in a childcare outpatient clinic of a Teaching Hospital in Recife, in the state of Pernambuco. The information obtained through semi-structured interviews were submitted to thematic content analysis and interpreted under the light of the Social Representations Theory. The analysis revealed four themes: facing obstacles guided by persistency, satisfaction and the advantages of breastfeeding; wanting to breastfeed; support from God and social; effective participation of the father. Breast milk was reports as being the best food during the first six months of life. Women’s positive support from the social network and her wish to breastfeed are what lead to successful exclusive breastfeeding.

Descriptors: Breast Feeding; Parents; Qualitative Research; Nursing.