Contextual Factors Influencing Breastfeeding Practices Among Arab Women in the State of Qatar

Behi Behrokh Nikaiin; Nahrida Nazir; Ambreen Mohammad; Tam Donnelly; Roqaia Ahmed Dorri; Nish Petal

doi:10.18778/1733-8077.9.3.05

Authors

Behi Behrokh Nikaiin University of Calgary-Qatar, Qatar
Nahrida Nazir University of Calgary-Qatar, Qatar
Ambreen Mohammad University of Calgary-Qatar, Qatar
Tam Donnelly University of Calgary, Canada
Roqaia Ahmed Dorri University of Calgary, Canada
Nish Petal Chief Executive Officer, Women’s Hospital, Qatar

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18778/1733-8077.9.3.05

Keywords:

Breastfeeding, Qatar, Arab Women, Qualitative, Social Support, Professional Support

Abstract

Breastfeeding is an important source of nutrition and sustenance for infants and toddlers, and has also been linked to several aspects of emotional, physiological, and psychological developments. Benefits of breastfeeding include lower morbidity and mortality rates in infants, appropriate nutrition for early physiological development, and improved immune system development. Some studies also suggest it may enhance cognitive development and reduce the risk of diabetes. These health benefits positively influence the physiological status of the infant throughout his or her early childhood and adolescence. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that breastfeeding be initiated immediately following birth and continued until the infant is at least 6 months of age. However, according to the UNICEF report, between 2000-2007 in Qatar, only 12% of babies under 6 months were exclusively breastfed. Funded by the QNRP (Qatar Undergraduate Research Experience Program), the goal of this exploratory qualitative study was to find ways to effectively promote breastfeeding practices among Qatari women by investigating factors affecting the ways in which Qatari women (national and nonnational Arab women) make decisions to engage in breastfeeding practices and their overall knowledge of breastfeeding. Purposive sampling was used to recruit 32 Arab mothers as research participants and individual in-depth, semi-structured interviews were conducted with each participant. Results showed that professional support from doctors and nurses, social support from parents and spouse, cultural and religious values, economic ability work restrictions, time, as well as availability of help and care at home, personal challenges, such as perceptions of pain, body image, and body changes, were some of the major factors in making decisions to breastfeed or not.

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Author Biographies

Behi Behrokh Nikaiin, University of Calgary-Qatar, Qatar

Behi (Behrokh) Nikaiin is a Faculty member at the University of Calgary-Qatar. She is a PhD student in the Memorial University of Newfoundland in the Community Health program. Her clinical interests include Maternal-Child Health, Midwifery and Health Promotion, Primary Health Care/Community Nursing. She has been involved with organizational and academic education since 2000. Some of her research interests are: breastfeeding, postpartum depression, cerebral palsy in newborns, and governmental/institutional policies on maternal-child issues.

Nahrida Nazir, University of Calgary-Qatar, Qatar

Nahrida Nazir Band is a full time student in the Master of Nursing Program at the University of Calgary-Qatar. She has worked as an RN, Case Manager, and Quality Management Reviewer. Her research interests include primary prevention and awareness about cancer related diseases and quality improvement at health care systems in the State of Qatar.

Ambreen Mohammad, University of Calgary-Qatar, Qatar

Ambreen Mohammad is a charge nurse in a cardiology accident and emergency ward. She started her career as a diploma nurse and was passionate about doing her Bachelor’s in nursing. She was successful in completing her bachelors with distinction at the University of Calgary-Qatar. Her research interests are in cardiology. She is looking forward to completing her Master in nursing in the near future.

Tam Donnelly, University of Calgary, Canada

Dr. Tam Truong Donnelly is a Full Professor at the University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada and Associate Dean of Research at the University of Calgary-Qatar, Doha, Qatar. Her research interests include women’s health, mental health, health promotion, and disease prevention. She uses both qualitative and quantitative research methodologies.

Roqaia Ahmed Dorri, University of Calgary, Canada

Roqaia Ahmed Dorri, student in a Master program, Faculty of Nursing at the University of Calgary, Canada. She holds a BS in nursing with distinction from the University of Calgary-Qatar. She has practiced as an RN at several adult and pediatric units in the state of Qatar. Involved in varies research including quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methodology. Her study and research focus include public and community health nursing.

Nish Petal, Chief Executive Officer, Women’s Hospital, Qatar

Dr. Nish Patel has been the Chief Executive Officer of Women’s Hospital, a member hospital of the Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar since April 2008. Prior to that, he was a senior administrator at the Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN. He has been a consultant to many health organizations and an invited faculty to professional academic associations.

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