PLoS ONE
Volume 14, Issue 10, 2019

Breastfeeding support through wet nursing during nutritional emergency: A cross sectional study from Rohingya refugee camps in Bangladesh (Article) (Open Access)

Azad F. , Rifat M.A.* , Manir M.Z. , Biva N.A.
  • a World Food Programme of the United Nations, Cox’s Bazar, Chittagong, Bangladesh
  • b United Nations Children’s Fund, Cox’s Bazar, Chittagong, Bangladesh, Directorate General of Food, Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh, Dhaka, Bangladesh
  • c Nutrition Officer, United Nations Children’s Fund, Cox’s Bazar, Chittagong, Bangladesh
  • d Institute of Nutrition and Food Science, University of Dhaka, Dhaka, Bangladesh

Abstract

Background/Objectives This study examined the best practices with regard to infant and young child feeding in emergency (IYCF-E) program. This was done by observing a breastfeeding support scenario through wet nursing in Rohingya refugee camps in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh. Methods Information on demographics, IYCF-E knowledge, wet nursing support, type of constraints faced, and possible ways to overcome such constraints was collected through face-to-face interviews with 24 conveniently selected wet nurses. Linear regression was used to analyze the associations. Results Mean age of wet nurses was 21.6 years; 16.67% had adequate knowledge about IYCF-E; and 29.17% had prior knowledge about wet nursing. Mean age of supported infants was 1.29 months, and 58.33% had a familial relationship with the wet nurses. Duration of breastfeeding support was significantly associated with the wet nurse’s age, age of the wet nurses’ youngest children, familial relationship with infants, knowledge about IYCF-E, and followups from community nutrition workers (Ps <0.05). The status of facing problems (58.33%) was negatively correlated with duration of wet nursing, although this association was not statistically significant. The most extensively reported problems were as follows: misunderstandings with the infant’s family (85.71%), family workload and time limitations (21.43%), household distance (42.86%), and family members’ poor compliance (21.43%). Counseling from community nutrition workers (64.29%) and mediation by community leaders (57.14%) played key roles in mitigating such problems. Self-satisfaction (37.50%), counseling (62.50%), and religious inspiration (58.33%) were key motivators behind dedicated breastfeeding support. Conclusion Wet nursing in the Rohingya refugee camps in Cox’s Bazaar, Bangladesh, was associated with several factors involving both supply and demand. The present findings may help design better IYCF-E programs in similar context. © 2019 Azad et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.

Author Keywords

[No Keywords available]

Index Keywords

household nurse follow up human child nutrition controlled study interview Young Adult cross-sectional study worker male counseling female Infant workload leadership refugee camp linear regression analysis Article adult breast feeding education Bangladesh satisfaction Child

Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85072807750&doi=10.1371%2fjournal.pone.0222980&partnerID=40&md5=791d335b9cfe1aa8c629c9ca1109b67a

DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0222980
ISSN: 19326203
Original Language: English