| How to cite this article: Umpai P, Kaewla W, Wiwanitkit V. Perception of early adolescent to usefulness of breast feeding: A report from rural Thailand . Ann Trop Med Public Health 2014;7:140-1 |
| How to cite this URL: Umpai P, Kaewla W, Wiwanitkit V. Perception of early adolescent to usefulness of breast feeding: A report from rural Thailand . Ann Trop Med Public Health [serial online] 2014 [cited 2017 Nov 14];7:140-1. Available from: https://www.atmph.org/text.asp?2014/7/2/140/146433 |
Dear Sir,
Breastfeeding is an important process that is recommended for all mothers bearing children. In the present concept for maternal and child health care, the promotion of breastfeeding for the children in the 1 st year of life is very important. To access the perception of the local population toward breastfeeding can be a useful information for further planning of proper management of breastfeeding promotion. [1] The problem is usually high among adolescents in remote areas with low socioeconomical status. [1] Here, the authors report the result from the preliminary assessment of perception of early adolescent to usefulness of breastfeeding. The setting is a rural province in North-Eastern Thailand where the problem of childhood nutrition can still be observed. [2] Here, overall 340 early adolescents (181 males, 165 females). Since the studied group is early adolescents who will enter into reproductive age within a few years, early identification of their perception can be useful for further promotion of breastfeeding among this population. The main question in this study is whether the studied subject’s percept those children with breastfeeding will be more healthy than those without breastfeeding. According to this preliminary study, 55.9%, 21.7%, 13.3%, 6.1%, and 2.0% of overall subjects expressed perception as highest, high, moderate, low and lowest levels by Likert scale questionnaire. Of interest, it can be seen that there is a considerable rate of low and lowest perception which might link to the future nonbreastfeeding practice. A focused group to improve knowledge, construct attitude and promote the practice for preparation of the early adolescent to be good parents practicing breastfeeding is planned. It is noted “adolescent mothers who have the least social support and are socioeconomically disadvantaged are the least likely to breastfeed their newborn infants” [3] and this should be the focused population in any future plans.
| References |
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Nesbitt SA, Campbell KA, Jack SM, Robinson H, Piehl K, Bogdan JC. Canadian adolescent mothers′ perceptions of influences on breastfeeding decisions: A qualitative descriptive study. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth 2012;12:149.
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Wiwanitkit V, Sodsri P. Underweight schoolchildren in a rural school near the Thai-Cambodian border. Southeast Asian J Trop Med Public Health 2003;34:458-61.
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Apostolakis-Kyrus K, Valentine C, DeFranco E. Factors associated with breastfeeding initiation in adolescent mothers. J Pediatr 2013;163:1489-94.
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Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None
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DOI: 10.4103/1755-6783.146433
