What Mother, Midwives, and Traditional Birth Helper Said About Early Initiation of Breastfeeding in Buginese-Bajo Culture

Azniah Syam; Khadizah H Abdul-Mumin; Imelda Iskandar

doi:10.1177/23779608211040287

What Mother, Midwives, and Traditional Birth Helper Said About Early Initiation of Breastfeeding in Buginese-Bajo Culture

SAGE Open Nurs. 2021 Sep 14:7:23779608211040287. doi: 10.1177/23779608211040287. eCollection 2021 Jan-Dec.

Authors

Azniah Syam¹, Khadizah H Abdul-Mumin², Imelda Iskandar³

Affiliations

¹ Nursing Department, Sekolah Tinggi Ilmu Kesihatan Nani Hassanudin, Makassar, South Sulawesi, Indonesia.
² Pengiran Anak Puteri Rashidah Sa'adatul Bolkiah Institute of Health Sciences, Universiti Brunei Darussalam, Gadong, Brunei Darussalam.
³ Midwive Department, Akademi Kebidanan Yapma, Makassar, South Sulawesi, Indonesia.

Abstract

Introduction: The aim of this study is to investigate how mothers, families, midwives, and traditional birth attendants in the Buginese-Bajo culture understanding breastfeeding and early initiation of breastfeeding (EIBF). Also to assess what support mothers receive from families, midwives, and traditional birth attendants during pregnancy, birth, and EIBF.

Methods: This qualitative study included 21 subjects (11 pregnant women, three midwives, and seven traditional birth attendants). Recorded interviews with the three groups of participants were transcribed verbatim and analyzed separately, using latent content analysis. The study started in December 2014 and ended in July 2015.

Results: Some mothers understood the meaning of EIBF, but engaged in it for different reasons. The midwives interpreted the principle of EIBF differently from a duration perspective. Traditional birth attendants explained it as a way to strengthen the relationship between mothers, and babies; they believed that prolonging breastfeeding until 2 years would change babies into caring children. According to them, this skin-to-skin contact has been practice for a century by traditional birth helpers. The philosophy of breastfeeding, according to the Buginese-Bajo, is creating "peru" relationships for mothers and babies each other for their whole lives.

Conclusion: These findings show a connection between established science and cultural beliefs. The concept of peru is the central philosophy to be achieved in EIBF. Breast-feeding's psychological value is known and passed from generation to generation; this essential fact needs to be preserved as local capital for changing breastfeeding behavior. The government should pay more attention to this opportunity to increase awareness and promote breastfeeding behavior changes.

Keywords: Buginese-Bajo; EIBF; behavior; beliefs; breastfeeding value; cultural; maritime tribe; midwives; social capital; traditional birth attendants.