Associate Professor University of Regina Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada
Abstract:
Background: Refugee mothers are vulnerable to cultural stereotyping and socioeconomic hardships when they migrate to a new country. This vulnerability often has a negative impact on refugee mothers’ breastfeeding practices, related to social, emotional, psychological, and physical stressors.
Research
Aim: This study aimed at exploring factors that promote or impede breastfeeding practices of refugee mothers accessing and utilizing healthcare services in Saskatchewan.
Methods: Using a critical ethnographic study design, this study was undertaken in Saskatchewan, Canada that has a noticeable increase in refugee population with young children . After seeking ethics approval, in-depth interviews were undertaken with 27 refugee mothers with young children of age range 1 day to 24 months. Refugee mothers were recruited from different cities through purposive and snowball sampling. Data was also gathered through observations of breastfeeding services in healthcare settings and a review of the websites of the healthcare settings in Saskatchewan.
Results: Breastfeeding culture in healthcare, support, cultural sensitivity/accommodation in healthcare settings, and maternal knowledge and commitment to breastfeeding are the factors that positively affect breastfeeding practices of refugee mothers. This study identified that healthcare barriers, psychosocial barriers, environmental barriers, and maternal and child health-related barriers lead to physiological challenges, mental health issues, and trauma that negatively affect breastfeeding practices of refugee mothers.
Conclusions: Breastfeeding practices of refugee mothers can be promoted through healthcare support, culturally appropriate services, interpretation services in healthcare settings, implementation of Baby-friendly initiatives (BFI) in healthcare settings, hospital and community-based breastfeeding campaigns, and follow-up services.
Publication: Not published yet
Diversity and Inclusion: I acknowledge that the content, language and reference used in the presentation will address the learning needs of the audience/stakeholders/end-users/healthcare professionals from diverse cultural, ethnic, and geographic backgrounds. The material and language in the presentation will take into account the inclusivity of audiences from varying sexual orientations, gender identities/expressions. References/literature support used in this presentation are from a variety of social groups and countries.
Disclosures: Presenter(s) indicated no conflicts of interest to disclose.
Learning Objectives:
Identify breastfeeding barriers of refugee mothers who migrated from low-income countries to Canada
Examine healthcare barriers that directly and indirectly affect breastfeeding practices of refugee mothers
Analyze strategies to promote, protect and support breastfeeding practices of refugee mothers in the context of high-income countries, like Canada
Identify the role of lactation consultants and healthcare providers in reducing the barriers to breastfeeding and support breastfeeding practices of refugee mothers
Discuss the importance of patient-oriented research in examining the breastfeeding challenges of the vulnerable group of refugee mothers and identifying possible strategies to overcome those challenges