Muzammal, Bushra (2016). Breastfeeding experiences of immigrant mothers of low-birth weight babies living in Montreal, Quebec. McGill Family Medicine Studies Online, 11: e03. 

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Abstract

Context and Purpose: The present study explores the breastfeeding experiences of non-Canadian-born mothers who come from countries where breastfeeding is the usual way to feed new-born babies, and who have given birth to low birth weight babies. It more particularly examines the challenges faced by these women with respect to breastfeeding and to getting support for breastfeeding from doctors and nurses in hospitals and primary health care units in Montreal.

Methodology: The methodological framework of the current study was based on a qualitative ethnographic approach. According to a purposeful sampling strategy, participants where non-Canadian mothers from countries where breastfeeding was the usual practice to feed babies (n=9), and who had given birth in three Montreal hospitals (Quebec, Canada) over the period of six months prior fieldwork. Data source was face-to-face, semi-structured interviews with participants, and thematic analysis of transcribed verbatim from interviews was performed to address the research question.

Results: The results suggested that immigrant mothers who come from traditional breastfeeding cultures and give birth to low-birth-weight babies have difficulties accessing proper prenatal care and support for breastfeeding in Montreal. Their healthcare and breastfeeding challenges may be attributed to: (i) language barriers; (ii) the low education level and socio-economic status of the immigrant mothers; and (iii) a lack of understanding on the part of Canadian health professionals and community workers of the healthcare and breastfeeding support needs of immigrant mothers.

Conclusion: This research suggests that there is a need for health services to develop strategies aiming at educating health professionals to better enable them to address the breastfeeding support needs of immigrant mothers of low-birth-weight babies. It also supports the need to provide these women with sources of information and support on breastfeeding in a Canadian cultural context.