BREAST-FEEDING BELIEFS OF LOW-INCOME PRIMIGRAVIDAE

The purpose of this descriptive study was to elicit salient beliefs re garding breastfeeding in low-income, primigravidae. Open-ended questio ns were used in taped interviews with 41 pregnant women who intended t o breastfeed. Basic content analysis was used to identify recurrent be liefs. Infant health benefits and improved bonding were frequently men tioned advantages; disadvantages included interference with maternal s chedule, inability of others to feed infant, and physical discomfort. Family members, husbands/boyfriends, and health care providers were th ought to approve of breastfeeding. These findings may facilitate effor ts to increase breastfeeding initiation by examining beliefs fostering or inhibiting breastfeeding in this population. (C) 1997 Elsevier Sci ence Ltd.