"Hago lo posible": An examination of infant feeding practices among indigenous women of Guatemala Open Access
Plumlee, Catherine Anne (2012)
Published
Abstract
Abstract
Background: Guatemala, a nation rich in diverse culture of
Spanish colonialism and
Mayan ancestry, is a nation whose youngest citizens carry a
tremendous burden of
disease that they must bear for a lifetime. The nutritional
deficiencies many children
experience in infancy cause irreversible damage such as severe
stunting and decreased
mental capacity, of which they will never recover, despite the fact
that from birth to six
months, children have ideal nourishment literally made just for
them, their mother's milk.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in the summer
of 2010 in order to
evaluate the infant and young child feeding practices among a group
of indigenous
Mayan Chuj women. Attitudes, as well as other influencing factors
surrounding feeding
behaviors were explored using qualitative methodology. A total of
13 in-depth interviews
were conducted in and around the village of Calhuitz, in the
municipality of San
Sebastián Coatán, in the department of Huehuetenango,
Guatemala, among mothers with
a child aged one, three, six, nine, or 12 months in order to obtain
views and attitudes
toward infant feeding over the course of a child's first year of
life.
Results: From the in-depth interviews which assessed the
decision-making processes
regarding infant feeding and how mothers weighed their immediate
and long-term
consequences and rewards, two main themes emerged: 1) Factors that
Influence Intent to
Practice a Behavior and 2) Factors that Cause Mothers to Negotiate
between their Intent
and their Practice. The themes, when explored further, reveal the
multifaceted and
nuanced behavior that is infant feeding and how its influencing
factors can be explained
through the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB).
Conclusions: Findings from this study not only serve to
build upon a global body of
knowledge which positions infant and young child feeding within the
context of the TPB,
but also serve to better inform appropriate and lasting
interventions that are greatly
needed in Guatemala.
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Chapter 1. Introduction...1
Chapter 2. Comprehensive Review of the Literature...5
Chapter 3. Methods...25
Chapter 4. Results...32
Chapter 5: Discussion...41
Chapter 6: Conclusion, Implications, and Recommendations...46
References...51
Appendix A...60
Appendix B...64
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