"Fitting-in Australia" as nurturers: Meta-synthesis on infant feeding experiences among immigrant women

June Joseph; Wendy Brodribb; Pranee Liamputtong

doi:10.1016/j.wombi.2018.12.002

"Fitting-in Australia" as nurturers: Meta-synthesis on infant feeding experiences among immigrant women

Women Birth. 2019 Dec;32(6):533-542. doi: 10.1016/j.wombi.2018.12.002. Epub 2018 Dec 21.

Authors

June Joseph¹, Wendy Brodribb², Pranee Liamputtong³

Affiliations

¹ Primary Care Clinical Unit, University of Queensland, Australia. Electronic address: j.joseph@uq.edu.au.
² Primary Care Clinical Unit, University of Queensland, Australia.
³ School of Science and Health, Western Sydney University, Australia.

PMID: 30580993
DOI: 10.1016/j.wombi.2018.12.002

Abstract

Problem: Migration or resettlement to western nations frequently alters breastfeeding and complementary feeding practices.

Background: Infant feeding practices in traditional societies (originally from non-white countries) are ingrained within customary beliefs and practices.

Aim: To understand maternal infant feeding experiences pre- and post-resettlement for the benefit of policy and healthcare practice.

Methods: This meta-synthesis of qualitative studies on infant feeding experiences of migrant and refugee women in Australia adopted the Noblit and Hare aproach. CINAHL, ScienceDirect, MEDLINE, Social Sciences, SCOPUS and PubMed databases from 1980 to 2018 were searched. Fourteen papers of the 218 retrieved met the inclusion criteria. The Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASP) tool was used to assess the quality of papers and data were synthesised through reciprocal translation.

Results: One overarching theme emerged: "Fitting-in" to nurture a healthy child in a new homeland. This theme composed of two major themes: beliefs about breast milk and breastfeeding; and beliefs about complementary feeding. In Australia, manufactured foods such as infant formula were often associated with modernism. Western hospital policies were seen as a deterrent to lactation, while familial disconnections and unfamiliarity with healthcare and societal norms undermined maternal infant feeding confidence. New to the scope of migratory infant feeding literature, this synthesis uncovers how migrants and refugees negotiated the western hierarchical structures differently due to issues of power differences.

Conclusion: The 'Fitting-in' notion is best described through the socio-ecological model and maternal capital possessions. This paper calls for a proper 'balancing' between traditional beliefs and the safeguarding of infant health.

Keywords: Breastfeeding; Culture; Infant feeding; Migrants and refugees; Qualitative.

Publication types

Meta-Analysis

MeSH terms

Adult
Australia
Breast Feeding / psychology*
Emigrants and Immigrants / psychology*
Feeding Behavior / psychology*
Female
Humans
Infant
Infant Formula
Infant Nutritional Physiological Phenomena
Infant, Newborn
Qualitative Research
Refugees / psychology*