RESEARCH CRITIQUE

Research Critique

Research Critique

Introduction

UK wellbeing policy for numerous years has been to increase rates of breast feeding, especially in localities of reduced prevalence, because of the wellbeing benefits talked on mothers and babies (Statement of the Standing managing group on Nutrition of the British Paediatric Association, 1993; Department of wellbeing, 1995). Health settlements for babies comprise reduced gastro-enteritis and respiratory diseases middle ear and urinary tract infections (Statement of the Standing Committee on Nutrition of the British Paediatric Association, 1993; Hanson et al. 2002) and atopic disease (Saarinen and Kajosaari, 1995, p.223) Breastfeeding as prophylaxis beside atopic ailment: potential follow-up study until 17 years old, (Lancet, 1995, pp.1065-1069). The benefits to a mother of breast feeding her babies include a decreased risk of epithelial ovarian and premenopausal breast cancerous disease.

A review of the effects of support for breast-feeding mothers concluded that providing supplementary support, whether professional or lay, increases the duration of breast feeding (Sikorski, 2004, p.116). Small studies in the UK have shown that volunteer peer-supporters, who provide low-income women with role models, accurate information, support and encouragement, have helped to increase breast-feeding duration in these communities (Schafer, 1998, p.104). “Low income women often have decreased self-esteem and have few breast-feeding role models, which puts them at risk for low levels of initiating breast feeding and shorter duration” (Milligan, 2000, p.248). A community telephone survey in South Australia found little social support for breast feeding and many perceived barriers, including breast feeding in public and fathers' support and involvement with feeding (McIntyre, 2001, p. 17).

Social support has been discovered to have direct and positive consequences on mothers' connections with their babies and on breast-feeding rates. Studies have shown that a supportive environment is related to successful lactation for economically disadvantaged women (Marchand and Morrow, 1994, p.326). The function of fathers' attitudes on the initiation and continuation of breast feeding has been considered by some authors and it has been suggested that they proceed as key supporters or deterrents to breast feeding (Scott and Binns, 1999,p. 14) that they need to be better arranged for their function of supporting breast feeding (Giugliani, 1994,p. 1136). Astudy undertook with women in South Bristol has shown that if mothers seen that they were being sustained and encouraged to extend to breast feed by their colleague, family and wellbeing professionals, they were 37 times more likely to be breast feeding at six weeks postpartum (Ingram, 2002, p.90). Asmall study undertook in Bristol with expanded family members in South Asian families, which considered the acceptability of an antenatal intervention to encourage good breast-feeding practice, showed changes in behaviour, especially in giving colostrum, water or artificial milk and the use of dummies/pacifiers (Ingram, 2003,p. 325).

Following Breastfeeding in Doncaster: The Breastfriends Doncaster Method

The Breastfriends Doncaster task was primarily funded by the Department of wellbeing (DoH) for one calendar year (the year 2000). Its principal aim was to boost breast feeding rates among juvenile women in one discrete area of this town, in the North of ...