Social Pressures Against Breastfeeding Women During Breastfeeding: Breastfeeding Bullying

Research Article

Abstract

Introduction: Studies on mothers' breastfeeding experiences report that they perceive pressure to breastfeed. Mothers who feel pressured to breastfeed may see themselves as bad parents and feel guilty, ashamed, and embarrassed when they do not breastfeed.

Objektive: In this study, we aimed to investigate the frequency and nature of social pressure towards breastfeeding from the immediate environment of breastfeeding women.

Method: The study is cross-sectional. The population of the study consisted of mothers with infants aged 0-24 months who were registered to Family Health Centers (FHC) in Haliliye district of Şanlıurfa province. Five FHCs were selected using simple random sampling method. After the pilot study, the sample size was calculated as 311. 'Questionnaire on social pressure towards breastfeeding' was used as a data collection tool.

Results: 66.9% of mothers were exposed to social pressure during breastfeeding. Women with higher education level, who were employed, and who had 2 or less children were exposed to more social pressure (p=0.01, p=0.01 and p=0.01, respectively). In the logistic regression model, high school education and above increases the social pressure experienced during breastfeeding by 5.8 times and the number of children with 2 or less children by 1.7 times. 47.27% of the participants stated that they were subjected to social pressure by their mother-in-law, 29.90% by their husbands, 17.04% by their neighbors and 17.04% by their friends.

Conclusion: It is common for women to experience social pressure to breastfeed during breastfeeding. The actors of this pressure experienced by women are mostly mothers-in-law and husbands. Identifying and raising awareness of the social pressures women experience towards breastfeeding can improve breastfeeding success and duration.