Breastfeeding: How could it be enhanced? The perceptions of Vietnamese women in Sydney, Australia

In Australia, the prevalence and duration of breastfeeding is on the declin e. The low incidence of breastfeeding includes the immigrant Vietnamese. Th e purpose of this study was to examine Vietnamese women's perceptions of fa ctors that might influence their choice of infant feeding and how breastfee ding could be promoted and maintained by nurses, midwives, other health pro fessionals, and the health care system as a whole. A convenience sample of 124 postnatal Vietnamese women from community agenc ies in western and southwestern suburbs of Sydney was interviewed. Content analysis showed that factors that affect their choice of infant feedings me thod were language difficulties in communicating with health professionals concerning breastfeeding, lack of social support and follow-up can, and att itudes of health professionals toward breastfeeding. To promote and maintai n breastfeeding within the Vietnamese community in Sydney, Australia, appro priate health care planning and implementation based on their social, cultu ral, and language backgrounds and practices need to be considered. (C) 2000 by the American College of Nurse-Midwives.